Announcing TLC’s June Year of Service Project

The past five months of the Year of Service have been leading up to this – our biggest and most challenging project, yet! In June TLC staff from both coasts will meet in Denver to join Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado on their two-day Midland Hill Trail Restoration project. One of the most popular trails in Arkansas River Valley, Midland Hill Trail is about a hundred miles south-west of Denver near beautiful Buena Vista. Rain storms in the valley cause severe erosion on the area’s natural surface trails, so regular maintenance is necessary.

Volunteers will spend the weekend of June 9 camping in the great outdoors while restoring this popular trail in order to provide a safe and sustainable route for trail users. Work will involve repairing trail drains, constructing walk retaining walls and installing new rock steps. It will be hard work, but this project is set in one of the most scenic areas of the Colorado mountainside and there will be plenty of time for fun around the campfire and relaxation in the nearby hot springs.

Up for joining TLC on this adventure? Contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231.  

TLC Spends Quality Time with Arlington’s Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation

We’re big-time animal lovers at TLC, and our May Year of Service project allowed us to get up close and personal with some adorable cats and dogs!  In fact, several of our staff members have actually adopted their furry family members from this month’s featured organization, Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation. After volunteering at two adoption events with this wonderful group, it’s easy for all of us to see why. 

Founded in 2001, Lost Dog rescues abandoned or displaced dogs and cats from the threat of euthanasia at area shelters or other at-risk situations. Animals are then fully vaccinated and spayed or neutered before being taken to the Foundation’s 61-acre ranch in Sumerduck, VA where they await placement in permanent homes. Since 2001, Lost Dog has helped over 17,000 dogs and cats find new homes.

TLC staff volunteered at two weekend adoption events at the Alexandria PetSmart this month. Volunteers were each paired with one dog and for three hours our job was to introduce these sweet dogs and puppies to potential new owners. In between visits, we played with our dogs and gave lots of love. All of the volunteers agreed it was great therapy to spend some quality time with these guys. In fact, a handful of TLC staff hope to become regular volunteers.

“I adopted my dog Bali from Lost Dog, so I was happy to have a chance to give back to the organization in this way,” said Non-Profit List Manager, Samantha Merz. “It was sad to see that the dogs that didn’t find a new home go back to the Lost Dog ranch, but it helps to know they’re in wonderful hands and I don’t doubt it will be long until they find their forever home!”

Many thanks to everyone who came out to help at the adoption events, including Amy Willis (The Campagna Center), Carol Craig (Strategic Marketing & Mailing), Dave DeSalvo (RHA Marketing) and Dick Hoffman (Corp Press).

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation, or to make a gift, contact Lost Dog at info@lostdogrescue.org.

TLC Names Seth Colton Director of Political Services

The Lukens Company recently announced the promotion of Seth Colton to Director of Political Services.

Seth, who graduated from Marietta College in Ohio with a dual degree in Political Science and International Business, has been with The Lukens Company since 2007. 

Most recently, he served as a Director of Major Accounts, including long-standing clients such as the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Susan B. Anthony List and the Republican National Committee.  He also played a pivotal role for some of TLC’s top accounts including the Indiana Senate Majority Campaign Committee, Tommy Thompson for Senate, and dozens of highly targeted, integrated voter contact campaigns across the country.  For his creative acumen, Seth has received multiple Pollie, Reed and Maxi Awards.

In this expanded role at TLC, Seth will be responsible for overseeing strategy, creative and marketing efforts across the political division, including multi-channel voter contact and fundraising efforts.

“Seth Colton has been an instrumental part of the Company’s continued growth in the political arena.  He is being promoted to Director of Political Services in recognition of the superb job he’s done directing efforts internally and for our clients,” said TLC Executive Vice President John Schaller.  “Seth possesses a calm and steady leadership style that complements his unparalleled work ethic and commitment to our Republican candidates and causes.  His increased role in the leadership of our company is a critical component to our success moving forward.”

Congratulation, Seth!

Announcing TLC’s May Year of Service Project

After a few months on the road, we look forward to keeping it local on our May Year of Service project. Next month we’ll partner with the Arlington’s Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation at two weekend adoption events. Lost Dog rescues abandoned or displaced dogs and cats from the threat of euthanasia in over-crowded shelters or other at-risk situations and places them for adoption into loving homes. We can’t wait to show some love to the dogs and cats in need of a home!

Staff and TLC friends will volunteer for Lost Dog at the Alexandria Hybla Valley PetSmart on Sunday, May 6 from 1-4pm and Sunday, May 20 from 1-4pm. We will help run the adoption events and hopefully find new homes for many of the dogs and cats. Clients and other friends in the area have the opportunity to join us for either date.

To join us, please contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231. We hope to see you there! 

TLC’s Year of Service Volunteers with Philabundance

We’re now four months into our Year of Service, and while we’ve had our fair share of pleasant surprises along our volunteer project stops, nothing could have prepared us for the massive food distribution operation we walked into when visiting Philadelphia’s Philabundance on April 20. Set in South Philly, the Philabundance warehouse is over 25,000 square feet and houses the organization’s main offices and warehouse. Here, Philabundance processes more than 21 million pounds of food annually and redistributes it to 65,000 locals in need per week. After our own firsthand experience with this well-oiled organization, it’s easy to understand how Philabundance is able to have such an incredible impact on their community.

On our morning shift, volunteers helped box a huge delivery of bread for distribution through the organization’s Community Food Center (CFC). The CFC is Philabundance’s choice-model hybrid food pantry where participants choose from available items rather than receiving a pre-packaged box of food. This promotes a stronger sense of dignity for participants and also ensures that people choose items they will actually eat. In less than three hours, TLC staff and friends from ICS Corporation, a printer that TLC regularly partners with in Philadelphia, helped box over 6,000 pounds of bread to be redistributed through the CFC.

After a short break (and refueling courtesy of a local pizza joint!), the afternoon shift took volunteers onto the main floor of the warehouse where they sorted food donated through community food drives. After adjusting to the pace of the conveyor belt (and a brief flash of that classic I Love Lucy episode), we found our stride and helped process over 107,000 pounds of food!

“I was amazed by the amount of food that is processed at just the main Philabundance warehouse,” TLC Account Executive, Marie Kosanovich commented. “But the thought that there were people who would still go hungry after all that food was distributed definitely made me think twice about the food I take for granted.”

A special thanks to Dave and Sean from ICS Corporation for volunteering with us at Philabundance.

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Philabundance, to make a gift, or to organize a food drive, contact Jan Barnett, Volunteer Program Coordinator, at 215-339-0900 x 1651 or jbarnett@philabundance.org. 

TLC Spotlight: Tiffany Delgado, Account Manager

Announcing TLC’s April Year of Service Project

TLC heads to the land of cheese steaks and brotherly love in April to partner with the region’s largest organization in fighting hunger. Philabundance was founded in 1984 with the belief that no man, woman or child should go hungry. Today the organization helps provide hunger relief through direct service programs, food cupboards, emergency kitchens, shelters, daycare and senior centers.

Staff and TLC friends will volunteer at Philabundance’s Hunger Relief Center in South Philadelphia on Friday, April 20. We will assist staff with sorting and preparing food boxes for local seniors in need. Clients and other friends in the area have the opportunity to join us for either one or both shifts – 8:30-12pm and/or 12:30-3:30pm.

To join us, please contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231. We hope to see lots of familiar faces with us in April! 

TLC’s Year of Service Partners with New York’s Materials for the Arts

TLC staff and friends were warmly greeted with fresh bagels, a delicious pecan ring from Carlo’s Bake Shop (of TLC’s show Cake Boss) and smiles when they arrived at Materials for the Art’s (MFTA) warehouse in Queens on March 21 for two days of volunteering. Little did volunteers know that additional fuel would be essential as some heavy lifting lie ahead!

The third stop on TLC’s Year of Service introduced us to a New York based organization whose mission is to get art supplies into the hands of arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs. An added benefit to their work is giving new life to unwanted items that are repurposed (and kept out of landfills!) through art. Naturally this mission immediately resonated with TLC staff members who share a passion for the arts and conservation with many of our clients.

Like many small nonprofits, MFTA has a long list of to-do items that always seem to get lost while other needs take priority and the purpose of TLC’s volunteer work was to help improve efficiency by tending to those tasks. Volunteers repaired broken canvas bins and replaced wheels to make carting materials throughout MFTA’s enormous warehouse a bit easier. They also laid new tile in a conference room and classroom, where MFTA shows art teachers how to incorporate repurposed materials into their lesson plans. It was hard work, but of course the team managed to squeeze in some fun while they were at it! 

Executive Director Harriet Taub wrote about TLC’s volunteer work on MFTA’s blog here. “Usually people come to MFTA for a shopping spree but the tables were pleasantly turned on Wednesday,” Harriet wrote, referring to Pinnacle List Company President Holly Ruble purchasing tools and supplies for the MFTA warehouse.

The heartfelt appreciation was mutual as volunteers also benefited from the experience. “We had an amazing time volunteering with MFTA!” said account director and project captain Hilary Baar. “The best part was that we could really sense the impact this small organization has on countless artists and nonprofits throughout New York. A field trip of young students visited while we were helping in the warehouse – it was great to see their imaginations spark when they got their hands on the supplies at MFTA!”

A special thanks to Cheryl Bailes from Central Park Conservancy and Carrie Buell and Aaron Kobilis with Friends of John Thune for volunteering alongside us. And thank you MFTA for welcoming our group and teaching us more about your important work!

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Materials for the Arts, or to make a philanthropic or in-kind gift, contact Harriet Taub, Executive Director, at 718-729-2029 or htaub@mfta.org.

TLC’s Year of Service Partners with New York’s Materials for the Arts

TLC staff and friends were warmly greeted with fresh bagels, a delicious pecan ring from Carlo’s Bake Shop (of TLC’s show Cake Boss) and smiles when they arrived at Materials for the Art’s (MFTA) warehouse in Queens on March 21 for two days of volunteering. Little did volunteers know that additional fuel would be essential as some heavy lifting lie ahead!

The third stop on TLC’s Year of Service introduced us to a New York based organization whose mission is to get art supplies into the hands of arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs. An added benefit to their work is giving new life to unwanted items that are repurposed (and kept out of landfills!) through art. Naturally this mission immediately resonated with TLC staff members who share a passion for the arts and conservation with many of our clients.

Like many small nonprofits, MFTA has a long list of to-do items that always seem to get lost while other needs take priority and the purpose of TLC’s volunteer work was to help improve efficiency by tending to those tasks. Volunteers repaired broken canvas bins and replaced wheels to make carting materials throughout MFTA’s enormous warehouse a bit easier. They also laid new tile in a conference room and classroom, where MFTA shows art teachers how to incorporate repurposed materials into their lesson plans. It was hard work, but of course the team managed to squeeze in some fun while they were at it! 

Executive Director Harriet Taub wrote about TLC’s volunteer work on MFTA’s blog here. “Usually people come to MFTA for a shopping spree but the tables were pleasantly turned on Wednesday,” Harriet wrote, referring to Pinnacle List Company President Holly Ruble purchasing tools and supplies for the MFTA warehouse.

The heartfelt appreciation was mutual as volunteers also benefited from the experience. “We had an amazing time volunteering with MFTA!” said account director and project captain Hilary Baar. “The best part was that we could really sense the impact this small organization has on countless artists and nonprofits throughout New York. A field trip of young students visited while we were helping in the warehouse – it was great to see their imaginations spark when they got their hands on the supplies at MFTA!”

A special thanks to Cheryl Bailes from Central Park Conservancy and Carrie Buell and Aaron Kobilis with Friends of John Thune for volunteering alongside us. And thank you MFTA for welcoming our group and teaching us more about your important work!

For more information about volunteer opportunities with Materials for the Arts, or to make a philanthropic or in-kind gift, contact Harriet Taub, Executive Director, at 718-729-2029 or htaub@mfta.org.

Announcing TLC's March Year of Service Project

Start spreading the news...TLC is leaving for New York on our March Year of Service project! We're couldn't be more excited to partner with our next organization, Materials for the Arts (MFTA), on a two-day project at their art supply warehouse in Queens.

MFTA provides thousands of New York City arts and cultural organizations, public schools and community arts programs with the supplies they need to run and expand their programs. They gather supplies from companies and individuals who no longer need them and distribute them at no cost to artists and educators in need. The organizational model not only enriches arts education in the city, but it also keeps unwanted materials out of the waste stream and landfills. It’s a win-win all around!

TLC volunteers will spend Wednesday, March 21 and Thursday, March 22 helping MFTA organize their art supply warehouse and also assisting artists and educators who visit during the organization’s shopping day. If you’re interested in joining clients and friends who’ve already committed to the project, please contact Ashley Gunning at agunning@thelukenscompany.com or 703-845-8484 x231.

We’ll be back later in March to recap!