A Time to Give: Kraus-Anderson’s Annual Fall Giving Campaign

by Brenden Nickels

Brenden Nickels is a blogger and senior office assistant at Kraus-Anderson’s Twin Cities office.

KA’s Annual Charitable Giving Campaign is Fun, Too

Kraus-Anderson has long held a reputation of serving the community it works and lives in. From volunteering at places such as People Serving People and Feed My Starving Children, our KA Has Heart program is a great way for us to give back to our neighbors and help out those in need. In addition,  there is another annual tradition that we have here at KA that helps out the community and allows us to have fun at the same time.

Every October, Kraus-Anderson has its annual Fall Giving Campaign (FGC) in support of various charities in our communities. In addition to traditional pledge card options, employees participate in a range of fundraising activities.  We have had sales of lunch and/or treats (Mary Bakke’s cinnamon rolls have been a big hit for a long time), tailgating, tournaments, contests, silent auctions, getting the opportunity to wear NFL team clothes to work, drawings for a 1-week stay at a vacation resort, and since we’re close to Halloween, scarecrow decorating contests, to name a few.

Our Fall Giving Campaign began as an optional donation or payroll deduction to the United Way. But as time progressed, we also started to give to Community Health Charities, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association as well. The last two charities cut their ties with the United Way in 2012, but people still give to them independently.

“One thing I look forward to each fall”

I happen to be a member of the committee that plans out these events. Of the time that I’ve worked here, I think that the campaign has certainly one thing I look forward to each fall. When I got the opportunity to join the committee, it was a no-brainer for me. It helps you form a sense of community between you and your colleagues as well with the charities that we support. Some of my fellow committee members agree. Cash Management Specialist Jody Foster said, “I have been on the Fall Giving Campaign for the past 15+ years.  It has been a great way to get to know many people at KA whom I would have not otherwise have gotten a chance to meet.  It is a fun and busy time of the year.”

“A good way to kick off the season of giving”

“I feel that Fall Giving is a really important time of the year for reflection on just how blessed we are as not only employees, but people.” adds Marketing Proposals Manager Jennifer Parent. “It’s a good way to kick off the season of giving with Thanksgiving and the Holidays around the corner. In addition, the month is full of fun festivities having a great time with one another and celebrating the many talents that people have to offer.”

“It makes me feel good”

FGC Chair Mary Doughman has been leading the committee since 2000 at KA Realty, and has continued to do so when the metro offices merged into one building in 2017. She said, “Even though it is very time-consuming and at times hectic, I keep doing it because it makes me feel good.  I feel I am really contributing something to the people in our community and, hopefully, helping to make some lives easier.  Although I am not able to donate large sums of money, I am able to donate my time and involvement in our Fall Giving Campaign – it is my way of giving back or paying forward!”

Some people think giving to charity isn’t fun or interesting. However, we have shown that this isn’t actually the case. With our Fall Giving Campaign, we help out for some good causes, while at the same time, we have fun, too.

Kraus-Anderson’s annual Fall Giving Campaign has raised over $1 million for area charities.