By Cindy Eichstaedt, data specialist, for the Tradition of Giving blog series
For as long as I can remember, and I have worked here a long time, HRG has always been a generous company to work for and that generosity has been the heart of our culture.
There are almost always charitable activities happening in and out of the office. When funds are raised with things like our paid casual days, product sales, and special monthly lunches, the money is collected and gifted to a voted-upon organization which we collectively determine at the end of the year.
There are always so many great and well-deserving organizations to choose from, but in the past, we have always narrowed it down to one. In 2018, we decided to spread the monetary gifts among several organizations and each department could choose one or more.
When the Digital Assets team was asked to choose a charity, I thought there was not a more perfect way to honor one of the most important people in my life than donating to the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance (WOCA). I lost my mom April 3, 1998, when she was only a young 47 years old, to ovarian cancer, and 2018 marked the 20th anniversary of her death.
Many team members brought ideas forward, but I was humbled to have WOCA selected to represent my department. My coworkers and I took a trip over the WOCA office and presented the check. It was encouraging to see a local chapter committed to providing education, support, and funding for research of ovarian cancer throughout Wisconsin.
It’s important to raise awareness of this disease that often whispers, and recognize that not all female cancers are represented with the color pink. This September, like every other, I turn the town teal, the color representing this devastating disease, to raise awareness.