As the holidays approach and 2025 draws to a close, it’s the time of year for us to reflect on all that we have accomplished and all that we are grateful for. It’s our annual tradition to think about those who are less fortunate, and thanks to a generous donation from our CEO, Michael Pusateri, every employee receives $50 to give back to a cause, community, charity, or individual that inspires them.
A key part of our culture is being able to create a meaningful difference, both within and beyond our industry. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank each of our employees for everything they do, and we are truly grateful to have you on our team. As part of our #SiepeGivesBack program, here’s some of the causes, organizations, and individuals our team chose to support this year:
“This year I chose to give to Whispering Willows Senior Dog Sanctuary. This organization provides a loving, final home for senior dogs who have a hospice diagnosis. We are a lifetime hospice sanctuary who provides shelter, medical care, and most of all love, until the senior dog passes. Our rescue specializes in end of life hospice care for senior dogs, allowing some to experience love for the very first time. Our sanctuary is a cage free facility, all dogs are treated as family and live indoors only. We are a place they can call home during their closing chapters.” – Kevin Phelan
“I chose to donate to the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. We have a close friend with a daughter who has a brain tumor. This charity raises money to research a cure and support patients and families.” – Paul Livanos
“I decided to donate to Rex from the Waggle organization. Rex is a cat who needs surgery and the family is struggling to afford it, so I wanted to help. I have a huge soft spot for cats as I’ ve been a cat owner my whole life. I donate to Waggle a few times a year, and love to see the updates on the animals I’ve helped!” – Miles Eggleston
“I donated to Stewards of the Wild. They are a wildlife conservation leadership program under Texas Parks and Wildlife. They equip emerging leaders aged 21 to 45 with opportunities to actively participate in the stewardship of Texas’s wild things and wild places by providing education, networking, and outdoor experiences.” – Tyler Bush
“I chose to donate to GiveDirectly. This organization has partnered with the Propel app, which families use to manage their SNAP benefits. Through this partnership, they’re able to send money directly to families affected by the government shutdown. Together, they are distributing $50 cash transfers to households with children who receive the maximum SNAP allotment, a key indicator of extremely low income.” – Caitlin Hinojos
“My family is fostering a sweet lab mix puppy on behalf of the All For One Pet Rescue in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Money raised is used for the cost of food, vaccines, vet bills, microchips, etc. so foster families don’t have to incur those costs. It is one of the most rewarding experiences we’ve ever participated in. If you’re thinking of getting an animal for your family, consider a shelter. They may even come to you housebroken!” – Kristi Gerstel
“Feed Lake Highlands is a nonprofit serving the Lake Highlands community, working to combat food insecurity through weekly food distributions that feed 450+ neighbors every Wednesday—totaling thousands of meals each week. I’ve volunteered with them, and because they directly support families in my own community, I chose this local charity for our Giving Program plus I matched Siepe’s donation. Thank you!” – Amy Theriot
“I chose to donate to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss.” – Steven Beaney
“I donated to the Monmouth County Conservation Foundation. Our family loves to be outside and enjoy nature. One of the best parts of where we live, Monmouth County NJ, are the beautiful parks. We want to ensure that open space is preserved for generations to come.” – Jerry Sullivan
“I donated to North Texas Food Bank. Their mission is to close the hunger gap in North Texas by providing access to nutritious food. This was very important to my Friendsgiving/Friends-mas group especially around the holidays with how many people struggle to make ends meet.” – Garrett Clampitt
“This year I decided to donate to the Wounded Warrior Project once again. WWP is a charity that supports wounded veterans through a variety of programs, services, and events. I continue to choose WWP because of their hard work and dedication to serving those who serve our country. I have much respect for our United States veterans, so I take any opportunity I get to give back. The Wounded Warrior Project changes the lives of over 1 million injured warriors, caregivers, and family members each year.” – Pearce Blend
“I donated to Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that provides educational support for the surviving children of Special Ops Personnel and financial grants for severly combat-wounded, ill, or injured Special Ops Personnel. I learned about this organization while serving with the 160th. They have always had a very low management expense ratio, meaning I have been confident that my donations to this organization primarily go to individual soldiers and their families, rather than the management teams who run the charity. Also, my former commander Gen Hutmacher (retired – he was a Col when he was our Regiment Commander) is now in charge of this organization which gives me more confidence that this organization will continue to use my donations responsibly.” – Andrew Hosford
“AZul Fashion, Art & Design, Inc. is an incredible organization based in West Palm Beach, FL that’s very close to my heart. They create opportunities for adults with disabilities – and their caregivers – to explore art, fashion, and design in ways to build confidence, creativity, and community. My connection to aZul is deeply personal. My 31-year-old niece, who is on the autism spectrum, has been part of this amazing community for over ten years. Through aZul, she’s discovered new ways to express herself artistically and grow as a creative individual. For the past six years, she’s also served as a Board Member and Creative Representative, helping to guide the organization and inspire others with her passion. Supporting aZul means so much to me because I’ ve seen firsthand how their work changes lives – including hers. It’s more than art; it’s empowerment, belonging and joy.” – Jacynda Marbury
“Create Her Foundation empowers girls ages 10-17 by providing personal, educational, and financial resources through mentorship and enrichment programs. I am proud to have been with the organization since April 2024 as a mentor and have recently become a member of the board. This organization has shown me what true sisterhood is and has taken me and my daughters under its wing. As Create Her is always pouring into me, I am happy to be giving back to them this season.” – EnDaisha Hale
“I donated to LovePacs in Lewisville, TX. This is a charity that focuses on providing meals for students of families in need. My daughter had the opportunity to volunteer through her Girl Scouts troop at their warehouse to help prepare food packages for children right before the Thanksgiving break.” – Tushar Solanki
“I chose to donate to the Salvation Army this year because of their commitment to supporting people facing food insecurity. So many families and individuals are struggling to put food on the table right now so I wanted to give back to an organization that not only provides food, but also stability and hope year-round and during the holidays.” – Lauren McKeen
“We gave $200 to a Family Gift for Christopher our sponsored child in El Salvador. We have been sponsoring him since he was 5 and he turned 17 in March. This year Christopher is learning English and enjoys playing sports.” – Michael Pusateri
“This year I chose to donate to the National CASA/GAL Association for Children. This volunteer organization advocates for the best interest of children when they have experienced abuse or neglect.” – Mitchell Magalhaes
“Sagamore Hills School & Early Learning Center Christmas Drive is an initiative I’ve proudly supported every year since 2020. Growing up, I was lucky to experience magical Christmases. My grandfather and my dad both worked in sales representing key toy brands in Brazil, so our holidays were filled with joy (and plenty of toys!). Their office was like Disneyland to me – and it instilled in me the belief that every child deserves to feel that same excitement and happiness. Ever since I became financially more stable, I’ve made it a tradition to contribute to similar causes and bring joy to children during the holidays. This particular drive helps bring smiles to 250 children (ages 3–6) in Fort Worth by providing new clothes, shoes, and toys.” – Bia Fontanella
“As a pet lover/owner, I wanted to choose an organization that focuses on helping, rescuing and providing care for pets in need. Citizens for Animal Protection is a non-profit organization, founded in 1972. CAP offers a range of vital programs and services: Shelter & Care; Pet Adoption; Spaying & Neutering; Pet Care Counseling; Lost & Found Pets; Feral Cat Assistance Program; Pets for Seniors; Humane Education; and Pet Supply Shop.” – Sam Hui
“I chose to give to the Humane Society of Dallas because of the incredible impact they have on animals in need. After visiting multiple times while looking to adopt, I saw firsthand the compassion, care, and dedication their team brings to every dog and cat. Despite being understaffed and under-resourced, they work tirelessly to provide safe shelter and medical care. The workers and volunteers often use their own money to provide better food for these animals brought in. Supporting them feels meaningful because every contribution directly helps them continue their mission and give these animals the second chance they deserve.” – Tiana Gutierrez
“I chose Girls on the Run DC as my charity this year because they help encourage and instill these lessons I’ ve learned in the next generation of women. Through running I realized so many positive benefits other than just improved cardiovascular health; confidence in consistency, gratefulness for one’s own body, and pride in accomplishing even the smallest goals.” – Grace Choi
“I donated to Whiskers in the Wildflowers, an animal rescue in the Frisco area. One of my Dot sisters started the rescue and I’m thrilled to be able to help support her efforts in an area that does not have much available for rescues.” – TJ Jackson
“This year, I decided to donate to Operation Kindness in Carrollton, Texas. I have worked with Operation Kindness as a volunteer and Medical Foster for cats for a little over a year now. This donation will help them be able to take in more animals during these cold months and provide them with heat and comfort as they wait to be adopted in the Christmas season.” – Ryan Kelly
“I’ve donated to the BEE Community, which is a nonprofit in Bryan, TX that I worked with when I went to A&M. Their objective is providing jobs for adults with disabilities (who they call Artisans), who unfortunately have an incredibly high unemployment rate. This monetary donation will help them achieve their goal of providing these Artisans with a consistent hourly paycheck as they make craft goods to sell in local markets and online as well.” – Navid Nathani
“After a recent tour of the Houston facility, I decided to donate to the Houston SPCA in hopes of helping all of the animals that are there get adopted. They nurse wildlife back to health, take in more types of animals than I realized, and so many volunteers care for them on a daily basis. It warmed my heart to know they were in a good facility, getting the care and attention they deserved.” – Sabrina Schmidt
“This year we chose to donate to the Zonta Club of Dallas. Zonta is dedicated to expanding opportunities for women through education, scholarships, and service projects, actively working to improve the lives of women locally and around the world.” – Robert Rutledge
“This year, I chose to donate to The St. Baldrick’s Foundation in support of research to find cures for childhood cancers. For over a decade, I have happily donated towards this cause as children are our future and deserve to live long and healthy lives. While some organizations spread their research dollars between adult and children’s cancers, every grant funded by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is specifically for childhood cancer research.” – Matthew Donaldson
“Anyone who has seen what hospice care means for a loved one knows how important these services are. Marymount University Hospital and Hospice in Cork is especially meaningful to me and my family, and that’s why we have donated to them again this year.” – Darren Burke
“This year I donated to Alveus Sanctuary, a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary founded by Maya Higa, that serves as a virtual education center, providing permanent homes to non-releasable animal ambassadors while promoting conservation awareness. By leveraging platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, Alveus delivers engaging, well-researched educational content through series like Animal Quest and collaborations with other creators. Viewers can connect with the ambassadors’ daily lives, learning about their species and the conservation stories they represent. Each ambassador is carefully chosen to inspire action and highlight the importance of protecting our planet, and empowering individuals to make a difference in global conservation efforts.” – Tyler Dailey
“I donated to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. The PCRF provides free medical care to thousands of injured and ill children yearly who lack local access to care within the local health care system in Palestine. Over the years, they’ve sent over 2,000 affected children abroad for free medical care, sent thousands of international doctors and nurses to provide tens of thousands of children free medical care in local hospitals, and provided tens of thousands of children humanitarian aid and support they otherwise would not get.” – Preethi Velagapudi
“I donated to Operation Kindness. Donations help provide shelter, medicine, food etc. to homeless dogs and cats in Texas.” – Patrick Wiley
“I chose to give back to The Animal Project NYC. It is an all-volunteer organization in Upper Manhattan that finds street cats their permanent homes. It is an organization that is near and dear to me since we adopted our own street cat, George (F.K.A. Ruble), from them 4 years ago. All the volunteers help these cats out of the goodness of their hearts and I am so glad to be able to give back to them this holiday season. They are so deserving.” – Allie White
“I donated to the Human Rights Campaign because I support their mission of protecting the fundamental rights and dignity of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC does a lot of good by pushing for equal rights, educating the public, and supporting LGBTQ+ people in real, everyday ways. They’re working to make our communities more inclusive and to ensure everyone has the freedom to live openly and safely.” – Zoe Jacobs
