2020 Year in Philanthropy Review
At Hanson & Ryan, Inc., philanthropy plays a significant role in our values; we are always looking to give back to the community. As we bid the year a long-awaited farewell in hopeful anticipation of a healthy and happy year ahead, we’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of our philanthropic successes of the past year.
As in years past, “Blue Jean Fridays” continued to be a team favorite here at Hanson & Ryan. Each Friday, employees are encouraged to wear a nice pair of blue jeans to the office in exchange for a $10 monthly employer-matched donation towards a local charitable cause. At the start of each year, each employee nominates a charity among our client base of insureds—then, as a team, we decide the upcoming year’s recipient. In 2020, that organization was Ethan and the Bean.
Ethan and the Bean is a small café that employs persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Providing a workplace environment that teaches employment-related skills and fosters self-esteem, the non-profit employer places a strong focus on independent living.
When we started out in 2020, we were filled with ideas and plans for a full year of philanthropic support to Ethan and the Bean. Then the pandemic hit, the café was forced to close for a period of time, and we were unable to deliver as much support as we’d hoped. Because of that fact, the Hanson & Ryan team decided to continue working with Ethan and the Bean in 2021.
In addition to our work with Ethan and the Bean, Hanson & Ryan donated to the following organizations—each of which holds a special place in our collective hearts:
- NJ Polar Bear Plunge
- Red Nose Day
- Autism Awareness
- Alzheimer’s Awareness
- Breast Cancer Awareness
- Local Fire/Police Departments
- and many other insureds organizations!
Finally, we cannot forget about our annual involvement with the local knitting group, Totowa Stitches. Each year, we proudly donate knitting supplies to the artful masters of knitting who, in turn, knit beautiful hats, scarfs, blankets and more. All knitted items are donated to the Totowa VFW or back to Hanson & Ryan, which are then donated to local charities.
We look forward to another successful year of charitable giving in 2021!
