Leadership Perspectives

Happy Holidays!

It’s that time of year again! The holidays have arrived and, thanks to all of you, we’ve had another great year at NFP.

We look forward to continuing to advance and build NFP with you as we celebrate each other’s accomplishments. Your efforts have made us stronger and have helped us become a better company.

In the spirit of the season, I want to let you all know how proud we are that each year NFP has become an even stronger force for good within our communities as we enthusiastically give back to the causes and charities that are most meaningful to us.

I heard a great Tim Russert quote last night that I know will resonate with all of you as much as it did with me:

"The best exercise for the human heart is reaching down to lift someone up."

Our collective actions speak to this. In this year alone, the executive team has been instrumental in raising over $2 million for various worthy causes, and I'm sure that this amount is dwarfed by what we do locally across NFP. This is truly awesome!

Our unique employee- and client-focused culture has recently been recognized for its value. Last week, we announced that HPS, a leading global investment firm, will be taking a substantial minority stake in NFP. HPS's investment in NFP is further validation of our success and accomplishments. Together, over a relatively short period, we’ve made great progress in transforming NFP into a single, unified company that is continually improving the quality of our offering to our employees and clients.

As we say goodbye to 2016, we want you to know that we appreciate and value all of the hard work you’ve put into making NFP what it is today. Please enjoy a wonderful and safe holiday season surrounded by your loved ones. From all of us to all of you, best wishes for peace and prosperity as we welcome in the New Year.

— Doug Hammond and the entire NFP Leadership Team

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PeopleFirst

COMMUNITY

Creating New Homes for the Holidays

Our Chicago office employees pulled together to raise $2,500 for the Fill A Heart Foundation, an organization that benefits orphaned children living in group homes in the Chicago area. Through in-office activities, jeans days and a bean bag tournament, employees raised enough funds to assist 12 teenage boys. Contributions are being used to take the boys shopping for sleeping bags, coats, hats, gloves and grocery store gift cards as they transition to life as independent young men. Employees also created heart-felt holiday cards for children in other group homes.

Chicago Fill a Heart Foundation

The Season of Giving

This holiday season the New York City office teamed up with the Astor Foundation for their 2016 "Adopt a Family" program. Astor Foundation is a community-based nonprofit that provides children's mental health services, child welfare services and early childhood development programs throughout the city. Employees donated toys, shoes, clothing and everyday necessities for 35 children and their families for some extra cheer this time of year.

New York Gifts

Making Spirits Bright for Those in Need

Employees from our Blue Bell, Fort Washington, Jamison and Warrington, PA, offices embodied the spirit of the season by donating to the Family Services Association (FSA) Holiday Gift Drive. FSA invites those in need to “shop” from the various donated toys, trinkets, puzzles, clothes, gift cards and more to help bring joy to their families each holiday season.

Last year, FSA brought holiday joy to over 1,250 individuals – 19 percent more than the year before – and hopes to serve even more this season.

Jamison
Jamison, PA
L to R: Tara Yohe, Joanne Kelly, Tony Donorfry, Steve Chapman, Charlene Gumkowski, Brian Donofry, Diane Reed and David Brown

Warrington, PA
L to R: Lori Nus, Mary Bowser, Kathy Kerstetter, Ann Marie Biase, Trish Howard and Susan Elliott

Sleep in Peace and Fleece — PJs for Kids

Employees in the Austin, TX, office donated pajamas for kids of the Saint Louise House, which helps mothers who have fallen on hard times get back on their feet. As an added bonus, employees who brought in pajamas for the charity were able to wear their own jammies to work for a special casual Friday. Onesies, anyone?

Sleep Peace Fleece
L to R: Denise Shanklin, Marcie Schmidt, Kim Davis, Carissa Federico, Chris Magott, Mary Steed and Erin Vance

Toys and Goodies on Their Way

Our Plainview, NJ, office brought joy to the world with a holiday toy drive for the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, which provides financial assistance for sick, underprivileged children. John Theissen himself joined employees to share in the holiday festivities, complete with hot chocolate and home-baked goodies. Before collecting the gathered toys, Theissen shared a heartwarming story of his charity’s beginnings and explained the ways each and every contribution positively impacts the community.

Granting a Family’s Holiday Wishes

As they have in years past, our Cleveland office “adopted” a local family in need this holiday season. This year’s family is led by a hardworking single mother of four. She’s also raising her two younger brothers, who are 9 and 14. Throughout December, the Cleveland employees are raising funds for the family by wearing jeans in exchange for donations to the cause. All proceeds will go toward this remarkable family’s wish list. We hope they receive everything they want, including a sleighful of holiday happiness.

Family Holiday Wishes
L to R:

Spreading Good Cheer

Employees in our Massachusetts offices joined a charitable dress-down day to raise money for a young woman’s holiday wish list. The woman is a student at Cardinal Cushing, an organization and NFP client that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Norwell, MA, team also sponsored three families as part of the town’s food pantry’s adopt-a-family program.

Spreading Good Cheer
L to R: Courtney Canning, Shannon Carroll, Allie Brown and Danielle Gaylor

Holiday Events

Competing with Cookies
The Get-Away Club of the Warrington, PA, office organized a cookie exchange and contest to celebrate the season in tasty style. Participants proudly baked four dozen cookies each to share and compete for best-tasting and best-decorated cookie awards. Congratulations to our winners!

Best Tasting Cookie
Best-Tasting Cookie: Lindsay Pino

Best Decorated Cookie
Best-Decorated Cookie: Carol Hammerschmidt

More Holiday Treats
Our Scottsdale, AZ, office sponsored a holiday cookie exchange. There was a huge turnout, and there were plenty of chocolate chip walnut, pumpkin and pecan cookies to take home.

More Holiday Treats
L to R: Joanne Cortez, Mary Schnuck, Jean Wolff, Danielle Blaser and Sue LaMay

Jingle Bell Rock
NFP offices across the country have been rocking the nights away, enjoying holiday parties with their colleagues. Check out a few of this year’s celebrations.

Austin, TX Office

L to R: Kirk Oswalt, Erin Vance, Mary Steed, Marcie Schmidt, Darren Conway

Back Row (L to R): Carolina Castaño, Billy Snelson, Mitchell Mazurek, Joli Kindler, Nikki Witcraft, Doug Seliger, Lauren Crim
Front Row (L to R): Michael Turner, Brett Moore, Lindsey Oberts, Katlynn Blakely, Jennifer Sweetland, Emily Britt