Gabriel Group Associates Pay-It-Forward by Honoring Clients with Charitable Giving

Pictured above: Melanie Ortmeyer and Dave Hawkins of Gabriel Group; Darie Gordy, Shelter Case Manager, and Jacki MacIntosh, Executive Director, of Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis; and Arthur Kerckhoff of Gabriel Group

For the ninth year in a row, Gabriel Group has chosen to donate funds to a charity in lieu of giving a traditional Christmas gift to clients. In 2016, associates selected the group Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis as the recipient of our Pay-It-Forward initiative. Loaves and Fishes is a nonprofit organization who serves those who have been struck by economic hardships, providing them with food, shelter and support to help them realize self-sufficiency.

Fundraising occurs throughout the year and is supported by a variety of events and activities. Ideas for 2016 included Paint and Sip nights; washers, pool and table tennis tournaments; and multiple potluck luncheons. Through the hard work of our Pay-It-Forward Committee and the generosity of the entire Gabriel Group family, we were proud to present a check for $15,000 to our friends at Loaves and Fishes on January 23, 2017 – beating our goal of $10,000 by 50%.

To date, Gabriel Group has funded a spring water aqueduct in the Dominican Republic to help provide children with safe drinking water; built four double-family homes for families in earthquake-ravaged Haiti; funded a new classroom at an early childhood education center in Zambia; provided food and clothing to an orphanage in Mozambique; supported relief efforts following the tornado in Joplin; helped local St. Louis children suffering from abuse or neglect and partnered with an organization close to associates’ hearts after losing one of our own to ovarian cancer.

We look forward to continuing on our journey to help those in need as we shift our focus in 2017. Make sure to stay posted via our Facebook page to be the first to know what cause we choose next!