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Honoring the Heart of Philanthropy: Celebrating the Distinguished Volunteers at AFP Greater Detroit’s National Philanthropy Day

On November 13, 2025, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) of Greater Detroit gathered the philanthropic community for one of the nation’s largest local celebrations of National Philanthropy Day. At the heart of the evening was a clear focus: honoring the volunteers whose time, leadership, and commitment quietly power nonprofit work across Metro Detroit.

Volunteers are often the unseen force behind progress. They serve on boards and committees, mentor emerging professionals, support events, and lend their expertise wherever it’s needed most. National Philanthropy Day offered AFP Greater Detroit an opportunity to pause and recognize those individuals who consistently show up, not for recognition, but because they believe in the mission.

Throughout the celebration, AFP Greater Detroit highlighted the impact of its Distinguished Volunteers, individuals who help guide the chapter’s direction and strengthen its role as a resource for the fundraising community. Their contributions go far beyond hours logged. They help shape programming, support ethical standards, welcome new members, and create spaces where learning and connection can thrive.

The evening also underscored how volunteer leadership fuels long-term growth within the sector. Many of AFP Greater Detroit’s initiatives, including education programs and mentorship opportunities, rely on volunteers willing to share their experience and insight. These efforts ensure that knowledge is passed forward and that the next generation of fundraising professionals is supported from the start.

By centering volunteers in this year’s National Philanthropy Day celebration, AFP Greater Detroit reinforced an important truth: philanthropy is not sustained by organizations alone. It is sustained by people who choose to give their time and talents in service of something bigger than themselves.

In Metro Detroit, that spirit of volunteerism is strong. And on November 13th, it was not only acknowledged, but deeply appreciated.

Welcome to Episode 33 of Arts Roll Call–a podcast for the arts curious. In this episode, host Robin Miner-Swartz talks with Jen Estill, founder of Redhead Consultancy and Nelson Gallery. They talk about the growth of Redhead and the addition of the gallery, the 2025 Arts Impact Project, creative placemaking, and more!

About Arts Roll Call
Arts Roll Call pulls back the curtain to explore the lived experience of artists and arts organizations in the Greater Lansing region. Presented by Arts Council Greater Lansing and hosted by local celebrity Robin Miner-Swartz, this podcast was created to give the Council’s members an opportunity to share their thoughts and talk about the role of the arts and why they are important to the region and the community. Whether you are from the Greater Lansing area or not, if you are a lover of arts and culture, you will enjoy getting a peek into the creative minds of these leaders and makers in the arts. For more information on the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, visit lansingarts.org. This production is sponsored by UnoDeuce Multimedia and Miner-Swartz Editing & Consulting.

Please Note: The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host, producers or the Arts Council of Greater Lansing.

Spreading Kindness in Action: Bobby and Danielle’s Story Behind the Red Nose Ruckus 2025 Resilience Hero Award

Some stories don’t stay on the page. They grow legs, find a voice, and turn into something lived. That’s the heart of the Red Nose Ruckus 2025 Resilience Hero Award and the reason Bobby Hoffman and Danielle Robinson’s story resonates far beyond a single moment of recognition. Their journey shows what happens when compassion stops being an idea and becomes a daily practice, rooted in family, community, and the belief that kindness can change lives.

For Bobby, that belief began during a long career in journalism. For more than three decades, Bobby told stories about people doing meaningful work. Leaders, nonprofits, and everyday individuals were all part of the narrative. Over time, something shifted. Telling the story was no longer enough. The work became personal, and the mission moved from observation to participation.

That transition became clear through Bobby’s connection to Child and Family Charities, an organization that approaches youth support through a wider lens. Instead of focusing only on children in crisis, the organization supports entire family systems, including parents, foster parents, guardians, and siblings. That philosophy stood out immediately.

Helping families holistically creates stability that lasts. When parents and caregivers are supported alongside youth, the outcomes are stronger, more sustainable, and more human. It is a reminder that resilience does not exist in isolation. It is built in community.

When Danielle joined Jackson, that mindset carried into the corporate world. What began as a role quickly became an opportunity to build something new. Jackson’s first-ever corporate giving program was created to focus not just on donations, but on connection. Employees were given meaningful ways to contribute their time, talent, and resources to causes they cared about, while aligning the company’s values with real community impact.

The turning point came when Danielle met the families served by Child and Family Charities. Impact became tangible. Names replaced statistics. Faces replaced abstract need. That moment, seeing firsthand what support can do, cemented a long-term commitment.

That commitment helped bring Jackson House to life. When Child and Family Charities identified a growing need to expand Gateway, a program supporting youth experiencing homelessness, Jackson stepped in. What followed was a powerful example of collective generosity. Hundreds of Jackson employees contributed personally, and the company matched every dollar. Together, they fully underwrote the project.

Jackson House is more than a building. It represents what happens when individuals, organizations, and leadership align around a shared purpose. Through Gateway, youth experiencing homelessness gain access to shelter, stability, and resources that help them move forward, not just survive.

In 2009, inspired by years of nonprofit involvement, Bobby founded ePIFanyNow, a movement built on a simple and powerful idea. Anyone can have an epiphany at any moment and choose to do something good for someone else, right now.

ePIFanyNow focuses on action over perfection. It encourages giving time, sharing resources, and using personal talents. The goal is to create moments of kindness that ripple outward, whether through spontaneous generosity or organized service. From community cleanups to handwritten notes, each act matters.

At its core, the kindness movement reinforces a truth Bobby and Danielle have lived. Giving back does not just change the lives of others. It changes you. Joy grows through involvement. Purpose deepens through service. Hearts expand when people step outside themselves.

That message is central to why the Red Nose Ruckus 2025 Resilience Hero Award matters. It is not about spotlighting grand gestures alone. It is about honoring people who consistently choose compassion, build systems of support, and inspire others to act at home, at work, and in their communities.

Bobby and Danielle’s story reminds us that kindness does not require a title, a platform, or a perfect plan. It starts with awareness. It grows with action. It continues when people commit to doing something small and meaningful, again and again. Impact multiplies when people lead with heart. Supporting families strengthens communities. Combining individual and corporate generosity creates lasting change. Resilience grows wherever kindness is practiced consistently.

In the end, the lesson is simple. Look inside, find what inspires you, and act. The next epiphany does not belong to someone else. It belongs to anyone willing to step forward.

Because real change does not wait. It starts now, one act of kindness at a time.

Behind the Scenes at MSU: The Grounds Crew Shaping the Everyday Spartan Experience

At first glance, Michigan State University feels effortless. Tree-lined walkways, manicured lawns, colorful flowerbeds, clear sidewalks, and smooth traffic flow all blend together into a campus that feels welcoming and alive. But behind that polished experience is a massive, coordinated effort happening every single day—often before sunrise and long after most lights turn off.
With more than 20,000 trees, miles of sidewalks and roads, athletic fields, gardens, parking areas, and even championship golf courses, maintaining MSU’s park-like campus is no small task. It’s the responsibility of the MSU Landscape Services team—a group of more than 100 dedicated professionals who protect, build, and maintain the spaces where Spartan life unfolds.
And as it turns out, it’s about much more than grass and mulch.
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One Campus, Thirteen Specialized Crews
Landscape Services at MSU operates like a small city. Thirteen specialized crews work together daily, each with a unique role but a shared mission: support the campus experience.
From gardeners and arborists to site construction teams, hard surface specialists, mechanics, golf course operators, and snow removal crews, every group brings expertise to the table. When major events or emergencies hit—like severe storms—those divisions blur, and everyone jumps in where needed.
It’s a system built on teamwork, trust, and pride. More than coworkers, the crew functions like a family—one that knows the campus inside and out.
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Gardening With Purpose and Precision
The largest group within Landscape Services is the gardening unit, responsible for the color, texture, and seasonal beauty seen across campus. Each year, they plant roughly 10,000 summer annuals, thousands of bulbs and pansies in the spring, and more than 1,500 mums in the fall.
But this isn’t about planting flowers and hoping for the best. It’s a carefully planned rotation that ensures MSU always has something blooming, no matter the season. From early spring pansies to fall’s signature mums, the campus color palette evolves alongside the academic calendar—quietly shaping how students and visitors feel as they move through the space.
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Smart Irrigation, Athletics, and Robotic Mowers
Keeping that landscape healthy takes more than visual planning—it requires infrastructure. MSU operates over 28 irrigation systems to support lawns, gardens, and athletic fields, while also maintaining turf for intramural sports and recreation.
One of the most forward-thinking developments? Autonomous mowers.
In partnership with the MSU School of Engineering, the grounds team now uses robotic mowers on approximately seven acres of campus turf. These machines reduce labor demands, lower emissions, and keep high-use areas consistently maintained—freeing staff to focus on other critical tasks.
It’s innovation rooted in practicality, and a glimpse at the future of groundskeeping.
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Mulch, Trees, and a Sustainable Cycle
Mulch may seem simple, but at MSU it tells a larger sustainability story. Each year, 5,000 to 6,000 cubic yards of mulch are created through an on-campus process. When trees must be removed due to disease or storm damage, arborists grind the wood—twice—into high-quality hardwood mulch that’s reused across campus.
That same team of seven arborists cares for more than 20,000 trees, inspecting health, pruning for safety, responding to storm damage, and planting replacements whenever removals are necessary. The goal is clear: protect the canopy today while preserving it for future Spartans.
After major storms, crews often work through the night to clear sidewalks and roads, ensuring safety and minimizing disruption. It’s quiet work—but critical work.
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Infrastructure, Events, and Everyday Function
Beyond plants and trees, the site construction and hard surface teams handle the infrastructure students rely on daily. From new landscape installations to renovations, signage, parking lots, and traffic flow, their work ensures campus remains navigable and accessible.
For football games and large events, these teams manage cones, barriers, and temporary signage—then remove everything and reset the campus afterward. Behind every smooth game day is hours of planning and physical setup most people never see.
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A Living Classroom and Winter Readiness
MSU’s 36 holes of championship golf serve as a living classroom for turf and horticulture students, offering hands-on experience that bridges academics and real-world careers.
When winter arrives, the focus shifts. From November through April, snow removal crews remain on call 24/7, prioritizing roads, sidewalks, and accessible routes. Working closely with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, the team ensures pathways remain safe and usable for everyone.
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Technology, Ecology, and the Bigger Picture
Technology plays a growing role in how the team operates. GPS-enabled equipment, ArcGIS Field Maps, and a $6 million fleet maintained by in-house mechanics help track work, streamline tasks, and manage such a massive campus efficiently.
At the same time, MSU is rethinking tradition. By converting 22 acres of turf into pollinator habitats and wildflower meadows, the grounds team is reducing emissions, cutting costs, and supporting biodiversity—proving sustainability and beauty can coexist.
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The People Who Make It Feel Like Home
At the heart of it all are the people. More than 100 employees show up every day—not just to maintain a campus, but to support an experience. They’re there early, stay late, respond fast, and innovate constantly.
Their work turns buildings into places, paths into connections, and a university into a home.
Next time you admire a flowerbed, find shade under a towering tree, or navigate campus with ease, remember: it’s not accidental. It’s the result of dedication, collaboration, and a crew working behind the scenes—every day—for the Spartan community.

Celebrating Impact Through Storytelling: UnoDeuce Multimedia’s 2025 Year-in-Review

As all of us at UnoDeuce Multimedia prepare to step into our 25th year, 2025 offered a powerful reminder of why this work matters. It was a year defined by real stories told alongside nonprofits, community leaders, and mission-driven organizations working every day to make Michigan stronger.

This 2025 Year-in-Review captures more than just finished projects. It reflects moments behind the camera: conversations that sparked new ideas, laughter between takes, and the quiet intensity of interviews where people shared why their work matters. From nonprofit hubs and community foundations to frontline service organizations, UnoDeuce had the privilege of helping bring these missions to life through thoughtful, intentional video storytelling.

Throughout the year, the focus of elevating purpose stayed the same. Each project was designed to help organizations connect more deeply with their audiences, whether through documentary-style storytelling, promotional videos, event coverage, or ongoing content strategies. These weren’t just videos created to be watched; they were tools built to build trust, inspire action, and strengthen communities.

2025 also marked continued growth in collaboration. UnoDeuce worked alongside nonprofit leaders, boards, funders, and partners who understood the value of authentic storytelling. Together, those partnerships turned complex missions into clear narratives and helped organizations share not just what they do, but why they do it.

The highlight reel is a snapshot of that momentum—packed with meaningful visuals, familiar faces, and stories that continue long after the camera stops rolling. It’s a reminder that video, when done with care and purpose, can move people to listen, engage, and support something bigger than themselves.

As UnoDeuce Multimedia looks ahead to year 25, this reel stands as both a celebration and a promise. The commitment remains the same: to tell stories that matter, support missions that serve, and use creativity to create real, lasting impact—one story at a time.

Reflecting on 2025: A Year of Growth, Grit, and Groundwork at UnoDeuce
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a breath, looking back, and doing something we don’t always slow down enough to do—reflect. This past year at UnoDeuce was full of movement: new spaces, new ideas, bold experiments, meaningful wins, and some very real challenges. It was a year that stretched us creatively and emotionally, and one that laid the groundwork for something big ahead—our 25th anniversary in 2026.
So grab a coffee and settle in.
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A Fresh Start at the Nonprofit Hub
Every new chapter starts with a leap of faith, and for us here at UnoDeuce, that leap came early in 2025. When Child and Family Charities invited us to become part of the brand-new Nonprofit Hub, it was a no-brainer. It just made sense.
We moved in January—during Michigan winter, no less—hauling gear, painting walls, and turning an empty space into a functioning studio. It was cold, exhausting, and absolutely energizing.
Before everything was perfectly in place, we went live.
The new studio quickly became more than a workspace. It became a launchpad for creativity, collaboration, and conversations that mattered. From the very first broadcast, it was clear this move was about more than square footage—it was about proximity, purpose, and possibility.
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Launching the UnoCup and Live Event Innovation
One of the first big moments we’d like to highlight in the new space came with the launch of the UnoCup, a live-streamed UNO tournament created for the grand opening of the Nonprofit Hub.
What started as a fun idea turned into a full-scale event that involved a total of nine nonprofits competing, celebrity players and announcers, a packed room and an engaged livestream audience.
The energy was contagious. Laughter, competition and community all came together in one night. More importantly, the UnoCup showed what live, creative fundraising events could be. That night didn’t just break in the studio; it opened the door to a whole new service offering for UnoDeuce: high-quality, high-energy livestream production for nonprofits and community organizations.
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Building Smarter Learning Experiences
Behind the scenes, one of our biggest wins in 2025 was the development of customized learning management tools. We began helping organizations build flexible training platforms—virtual, in-studio, or hybrid—without the tech overwhelm.
Accessibility was a major focus. Through partnerships with 7C Lingo, we integrated ASL interpretation and foreign language captioning into our learning systems, ensuring content could truly reach everyone.
At its core, the goal was simple: make education more inclusive, more usable, and more human.
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Partnerships That Expanded Our Reach
UnoDeuce has never believed in going it alone, and 2025 reinforced how powerful collaboration can be. This year, partnerships with organizations like 7C Lingo, Gold Pro Media, and Lansing Public Media helped us expand beyond production into strategy.
Through our work with Gold Pro Media, we dove deeper into podcast planning—guest acquisition, sponsorship development, continuity, and marketing—helping shows grow sustainably instead of just episodically.
These relationships allowed us to bring more voices forward, more consistently, and with greater impact.
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Podcasting, Broadcast, and Local Stories
Podcast production remained a major pillar of our work. In 2025, shows like Arts Roll Call (with the Arts Council of Greater Lansing) and Mission Control continued to grow—evolving from audio-only formats into full broadcast experiences through Lansing Public Media.
More platforms meant more reach. More reach meant more stories shared. And for us, that’s always the point.
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A Record Year for Fundraising Impact
If there’s one area where 2025 truly stood out, it was fundraising. By fall, it felt like every weekend brought another event. In total, we supported nearly 15 fundraising events, providing audio/visual production, livestreams, and storytelling support.
The result? A record-breaking $1.5 million raised for nonprofits across the Lansing area.
That number matters but what matters more is what it represents: services funded, programs expanded, and communities supported. That’s why we do this work.
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Growth, Recognition, and Real Challenges
This year also brought recognition, including Platinum Community Votes awards for Videographer and Video Production Company. Being recognized by the community always means something special—especially during a year of so much change.
But 2025 wasn’t easy. There were stretches of uncertainty, stress, and moments when the weight of everything felt heavy. And toward the end of the year, our founder experienced a profound personal loss with the passing of his father—a lifelong supporter of UnoDeuce.
Grief has a way of clarifying what matters. Family. Purpose. People.
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Looking Ahead to 2026 and 25 Years of UnoDeuce
Despite the challenges, we’re stepping into 2026 with energy and intention. UnoDeuce turns 25 years old, and we’re planning to honor the journey—past, present, and future.
Expect:
– Special events and creative campaigns
– A refreshed website and new newsletter
– Deeper partnerships and new collaborations
– Continued innovation in how stories are told
We’re grateful for our partners, our clients, our team, our families, and this community that continues to show up.
As we head into the next chapter, one thing remains unchanged: our commitment to amplifying voices, supporting causes that matter, and telling stories that make a difference.
Here’s to 25 years and all of the exciting things that come next.

Min Kyu Kim is the founder and CEO of Kimchi Box, one of the fastest-growing fast-casual Korean restaurant chains in the Midwest. After studying at Michigan State University, Kim left his career in consulting to launch Kimchi Box during the pandemic, using his business background and family roots in Korean cuisine to scale the brand rapidly. Today, he’s known for blending bold Korean flavors with an accessible, modern concept and for his ambitious vision to expand Kimchi Box nationwide.
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The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Michigan State University empowers students to lead lives of impact through entrepreneurship. With an education-first approach, we equip Spartans with the mindset, experience, and community they need to create meaningful change.​

Lauren LoGrasso is a multi-passionate creative whose mission is to help people express themselves fully. As a podcaster, musician, creative coach, and keynote speaker, she empowers others to embrace authenticity and unlock their creative potential. Through her Webby Award–winning podcast, Unleash Your Inner Creative, Lauren has built a global platform that inspires listeners to claim their creativity, overcome self-doubt, and pursue lives aligned with their passions.
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The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Michigan State University empowers students to lead lives of impact through entrepreneurship. With an education-first approach, we equip Spartans with the mindset, experience, and community they need to create meaningful change

iving Back with Heart: How Your Home Solution Experts and Child & Family Charities Are Making a Difference

Some companies talk about giving back. Others live it. And every once in a while, you meet a team whose entire culture is built around service—who show up with open hands, open hearts, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves. That’s the story of Steve Fitch and the people behind Your Home Solution Experts: a business that doesn’t just succeed in the community, but for the community.

In partnership with Child & Family Charities, they’ve found a way to turn personal history into purpose, company culture into community impact, and everyday work into something much bigger. If you’ve ever wondered what authentic corporate giving looks like—not the press release version, but the real, human, boots-on-the-ground version—this is it.
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Why Giving Back Isn’t Optional for This Team

For Your Home Solution Experts, philanthropy isn’t a marketing strategy or a once-a-year gesture. It’s a mindset. A rhythm. A responsibility.

Steve says it best:

“We believe in giving a hand up, not a handout.”

That principle defines everything they do. Instead of focusing on charity as a transaction, they see it as a relationship—one built around lifting people up, meeting them where they are, and helping them move forward with dignity.

Child & Family Charities became a natural partner because their mission aligns deeply with this philosophy. Offering more than 30 different programs across the region, the organization supports families, youth, and individuals from all walks of life. It’s broad, it’s diverse, and it’s hands-on—exactly the kind of work Your Home Solution Experts wanted to support.
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A Partnership Rooted in Diversity and Connection

One of the first things Steve mentions is the diversity of the Child & Family Charities board.

“The board is very diverse—different kinds of businesses, all different kinds of people. And with that, they’re able to give back to a diverse group of people.”

When you serve a community, you have to reflect it. And both organizations do. That shared approach creates a partnership that feels authentic, intentional, and grounded in real need—not assumptions.
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Company Culture With Heart

Spend just a few minutes with the team at Your Home Solution Experts, and you’ll notice something: giving back is contagious here. It spreads from desk to desk, from team member to team member, until you can’t tell where the initiative started—only that everyone is in it together.

Some stories stand out:

One employee routinely opens their home to kids who need a safe, welcoming place to land.

Another organizes toy drives every holiday season, ensuring children across the community feel seen and celebrated.

And then there’s Steve’s own story—the one that makes this work deeply personal.

“I was adopted—and I was adopted through Child and Family Charities… So to give back, that’s what it means to me.”

That connection isn’t symbolic. It’s lived. And it shapes the way he leads.
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More Than Money—A Movement

Your Home Solution Experts recently pledged over $100,000 to Child & Family Charities, a massive commitment by any measure. But as Steve explains, writing the check isn’t the hard part.

“The new challenge is not just to give money… It’s how to teach our younger generations the joy of giving back.”

Giving becomes powerful when it becomes shared. When it becomes tradition. When it becomes a story families tell and a value businesses model. And that’s the heart of this company’s mission: to spark a legacy of generosity that lasts long after the cameras stop rolling.
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What Child & Family Charities Brings to the Table

To understand why this partnership works, you have to understand what Child & Family Charities actually does. And the short answer is: a lot.

They provide:

– Foster care and adoption services
– Crisis support and counseling
– Youth development programs
– Food, gifts, and basic needs for families
– Mental health services
– Community events and resource connections

More than 30 programs, countless staff members, and a network of passionate volunteers all working toward one goal: strengthening families and building brighter futures.

For Your Home Solution Experts, partnering with Child & Family Charities was a no-brainer.
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The Power of Recognition—and Why It Matters

When the company received the RNR 2025 Extend Our Reach Award for philanthropy, Steve called it the pinnacle of their achievements.

“We could have the best job, the most profitable work site—but being picked for a philanthropic award means we’re doing what we say we’re going to do.”

Awards aren’t the goal. Impact is. But recognition reminds people that good work matters—and inspires others to follow.
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Passing the Torch to the Next Generation

Steve is passionate about one idea: giving shouldn’t end with this generation. And so Your Home Solution Experts is actively building pathways for young people to get involved.

That means:

– Hosting community service projects
– Encouraging kids and families to volunteer together
– Mentoring young workers not just in business, but in compassion
– Sharing stories of the impact philanthropy creates
– The more people feel the joy of giving, the more they want to keep giving.
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How You Can Join the Movement

You don’t need a big business or a big budget to make a difference. Small acts compound into big ones.

You can:

– Volunteer time
– Donate goods
– Support local drives
– Share your own giving story
– Partner with charities like Child & Family Charities

Impact grows when it’s shared.
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Final Thoughts: A Legacy Built on Heart

Your Home Solution Experts isn’t just improving homes—they’re building community. Their partnership with Child & Family Charities is a reminder that when businesses lead with compassion, entire neighborhoods feel the ripple.

As Steve says:

“I love my community, I love my employees… We’re here to stay for a long time.”

And with every act of service, every donation, every story shared, they’re proving that giving back isn’t a task—it’s a way of life.