Partner Spotlight: Fitch Group

Fitch Group, parent company of Fitch Ratings, Fitch Solutions, and Fitch Learning, started their partnership with Volunteers of America-Greater New York in 2015 when they became involved with Operation Backpack® (OBP). Ever since, their staff has been an incredible source of support through their stellar fundraising efforts. In 2018, Fitch sent two groups to volunteer at Sort Space, the place where we receive, quality control, fill, and distribute 20,000 backpacks to shelters across the city. The first group they sent offered to help us with the crucial task of setting up the room for the coming weeks, and without these key volunteers, the campaign wouldn't have run as smoothly as it did. 

This year, Fitch got involved in another initiative that helps children — Brightening Birthdays™. Each month, at our four family shelters and three domestic violence shelters, we hold a party for all of the children celebrating a birthday that month. It's another way, aside from OBP, that we help normalize the lives of the children in our care. Fitch started a team on CrowdRise to raise money internally for Brightening Birthdays™, and have since raised more than $3,000 using creative incentives like giving employees the chance to opt into "Jeans Friday" at the office by contributing to the fundraiser. On April 12, Fitch wrapped gifts and made birthday cards for the children with upcoming birthdays. They're also planning to expand their support by hosting an event at one of our shelters. 

We are incredibly grateful for their support and are so pleased to be able to rely on their generosity! 

If you'd like to start your own fundraising campaign for Brightening Birthdays™, Operation Backpack®, or raise funds to help enrich our 80+ programs across New York City, New Jersey, and Westchester, start a CrowdRise team of your own! It's incredibly simple — just follow the steps outlined here.