Mission Raises $18,000 for 3 Local Nonprofits in 2023 

At the beginning of 2023, Mission Design & Automation recognized an opportunity for our team to make a tangible difference within our local community. An internal outreach team, the Mission Impact Team, was established to help orchestrate the company’s collective efforts, and as a team, Mission chose three nonprofit organizations to raise awareness and funds for throughout the year. These nonprofits were Fishing with Veterans, Kids’ Food Basket, and Wounded Warrior Project—organizations that touch lives in diverse and meaningful ways. Mission is pleased to share that our team members rallied together to raise $18,000 for these three organizations. 

Employee Fundraising in 2023  

At Mission, we like to have fun for a good cause. Throughout 2023, Mission employees participated in sizzling chili cookoffs, swinging golf outings, March Madness brackets, and other activities that both celebrated teamwork and served as a platform for fundraising. By the end of the year, these events generated more than $9,000, which Mission then matched, totaling over $18,000 to be dispersed between the three honored nonprofit organizations.  

“Mission is rooted in community, and our team and their families care deeply about participating in collective success. We believe we have an opportunity to contribute to the causes our team is most passionate about, helping to strengthen the broader community for all who call it home,” said Ryan Lillibridge, vice president at Mission Design and Automation.  

“These nonprofit organizations that bring clarity and visibility to the needs in our community resonate with our teams’ values. We are grateful to them for offering us the chance to volunteer and assist those in need,” Lillibridge said.   

The Impact of Fishing with Veterans, Kids’ Food Basket, and Wounded Warrior Project 

The three organizations—Fishing with Veterans, Kids’ Food Basket, and Wounded Warrior Project—that our team at Mission fundraised for throughout 2023 serve unique and vital purposes. Our team is incredibly thankful for the work these nonprofits do to better the lives of many, and the opportunity we’ve had to help support each of their causes.  

Fishing with Veterans  

Based in Holland, Michigan, Fishing with Veterans is a nonprofit organization that works to give back to veterans by providing them with a fun day of fishing on Lake Michigan. Each year—since Fishing with Veterans was established in 2017—the nonprofit organizes a boat parade along the American flag-lined Holland channel, and time for the participating veterans to fish. This event is made possible by the local boating community who donate their vessel, equipment, and crew; sponsors who support the event; volunteers; and the community who shows up to express their appreciation at the parade.  

Fishing with Veterans is hosting their next event on Saturday, July 13th, 2024. The outing is limited to 100 veterans, who can apply to participate on Fishing with Veterans’ website.  

Kids’ Food Basket 

Kids’ Food Basket has been providing hearty, healthy meals to children in West Michigan since it was founded in 2002. They believe that healthy food is a right, not a privilege, and they’ve done the work to prove it.  

Since July 1st,2023, Kids Food Basket has accomplished: 

• Providing 966,797 nourishing meals with their Sack Supper program. 
• Distributing 267,516 servings of fresh produce grown on the ten acres of chemical-free and sustainable farmland at the Kids’ Food Basket Farms. 
• 39,364 hours of volunteers advocating for the Kids’ Food Basket mission by helping across all programs.
• 1,856 student engagements with nutrition, farming, and food equity curriculum.  
• 60 schools served across Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, and Allegan counties.  

Kids’ Food Basket has aligned their strategy with the United Nations World Food Programme to work toward immediate and systemic solutions for regional food equity. Read more about their strategy here.   

Wounded Warrior Project  

Wounded Warrior Project has a vision: to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in the history of the United States of America. Their programming has evolved since the organization was first established in 2003 to wholly support service members once they come home. With direct programs in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care, paired with Wounded Warrior Project’s advocacy efforts, the charity has made a positive change in the lives of millions of service members and their families.  

Fishing with Veterans and Kids’ Food Basket Join Mission for Lunch 

On February 9, 2024, Mission Impact Team invited the 2023 fundraising recipients to Mission’s office for lunch. Representatives from Fishing with Veterans and Kids’ Food Basket attended and were presented with the monetary donations from Mission at this time. The attending organizations shared about the work they are doing to uplift various groups within our community and were given a tour of the Mission facility by Chief Executive Officer, Scot Lindemann.  

Pictured above: Representatives from Fishing with Veterans and Kids’ Food Basket with members of the Mission Impact Team during their lunch visit in February 2024. 

Our team at Mission feels great value in the connections we have made with Fishing with Veterans, Kids’ Food Basket, and Wounded Warrior Project in 2023, and we look forward to supporting new community initiatives in 2024.  

What is the Mission Impact Team? 

The Mission Impact Team, formed at the start of 2023, is an internal group at Mission dedicated to fostering a sense of community, service, and philanthropy. The team is committed to organizing volunteer events, fundraising initiatives, and employee team building activities that enrich the lives of Mission team members, as well as creating a lasting, positive impact on the local community.