Make a Difference March

This month, Intrepid has dedicated its social media channels to highlighting the nonprofit organizations we’ve supported through Intrepid’s Ideal Community Fund. We’d like to wrap up this month of reflection by encouraging you to be part of this great work. You can participate by signing up using the form below. Read on to find out about the impact we were able to make in our local communities in 2023 alone!

In 2023, our employees contributed $66,000 in grants for:

Still Serving Veterans and its VA Benefits Program
Service Dogs Alabama to assist with the training and placement of a service dog for a military veteran
Kids to Love’s Christmas for the Kids Program
National Children’s Advocacy Center and its trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health therapy for children of Huntsville, Madison, and Madison County
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama’s Summer Brain Gain, a summer learning-loss prevention program
Make-A-Wish Alabama to fulfill the wish of a child with a critical illness, providing them and their family with a trip to Disney World
Dylan’s Dogs for Diabetes which provided two children, ages 4 and 2, with diabetic alert dogs
The Caring Link’s transition kits in eight Care Closets in local schools for children facing homelife transitions

Through the ICF, Intrepid employees are making a difference in our communities and in the lives of others. We’re setting the bar even higher in 2024!

Service Dogs Alabama

Service Dogs Alabama (SDA) provides medical and psychiatric assistance dogs to children, adults, and Veterans with disabilities as well as facility dogs trained in intervention and behavior disruption for schools, courtrooms, and State Departments where stress is prevalent.

Last year, Intrepid employees provided a $10,000 grant to the nonprofit organization, which went directly toward providing a Veteran – Michael Morgan, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army – a service dog, offering one-on-one 24/7 physical and mental assistance.

“Since welcoming Shaggy into my daily routine, the positive changes have been nothing short of transformative,” said Morgan. “The most immediate and tangible difference is the newfound independence Shaggy has granted me. Tasks that were once challenging or impossible have become more manageable with the dog’s assistance, contributing significantly to my sense of autonomy.

Moreover, the emotional support provided by my service dog has been a constant source of comfort. In times of anxiety or stress, the dog’s presence and calming demeanor have proved invaluable. This emotional connection extends beyond just myself, as my family has also witnessed a positive shift in my outlook and demeanor.”

With Shaggy’s help, Michael has become an active part in his children and grandchildren’s lives. In the past year, they’ve taken a family vacation, he’s attended little league games, and for the first time, he took his grandchildren fishing.

SDA has at least 50 dogs in training at various stages at all times. The ultimate goal of this organization is to provide recipients with confidence and independence, enabling them to reach their full potential.

Thank you to Service Dogs Alabama for the difference you are making in the lives of so many individuals!

Discover more about Service Dogs Alabama here.

Kids to Love

Intrepid employees have proudly supported this nonprofit not only through ICF grant contributions, but also through volunteering their time with the Christmas for the Kids program.

Children often enter foster care with very little to call their own. Through Kids to Love’s Christmas for the Kids program, the organization helps children to have a merry Christmas each year by fulfilling their wishlists.

More than 2,200 children in foster care had their wishlists fulfilled by Christmas 2023! Thank you to Kids to Love for the difference you are making in the lives of so many children through impactful programs like this.

We are proud partners of this initiative! Discover more about Christmas for the Kids and Kids to Love here.

Make-A-Wish Alabama

Make-A-Wish shines a light of hope for children fighting critical illnesses when they need it most by creating life-changing wishes. A wish can be the spark that helps these children believe that anything is possible and gives them the strength to fight harder against their illnesses.

Last year, employee participants of Intrepid’s Ideal Community Fund proudly presented a grant to fulfill the wish of 7-year-old Luke, who has been battling leukemia.

The grant was issued in support of Make a Wish’s “Wishes in Motion” partnership, where funds have the most wide-reaching and powerful effect. Luke spent a magical week focused on nothing but being a kid and spending time with his family!

Since 2012, Make-A-Wish Alabama has granted more than 1,000 wishes. Discover more about Make-A-Wish Alabama, including ways to help, here!

The Caring Link

Students whose basic needs remain unmet will struggle to reach their full potential. That’s where The Caring Link steps in. This non-profit organization works to ensure that students are able to succeed and grow alongside their peers by establishing in-school Care Closets to supply essential items.

These closets provide teachers and staff with immediate access to items such as clothing, coats, shoes, school supplies, toiletries, food/snacks, and comfort items for children who face homelife transitions.

“By providing resource security, these kits help to ease some of the trauma and uncertainty that often accompany these stressful situations,” said Kate O’Neal, President of The Caring Link.

Intrepid employees proudly presented a $5,000 grant to The Caring Link in the last quarter of 2023. Since receiving that grant, the organization has had 10 transition kits go out.

Additional programs The Caring Link provides include book fairies, extracurricular funding, class med kits, class snack bins, pop-up prom shop, and PACE uniforms.

Discover more about The Caring Link here!

National Children's Advocacy Center

Located in Huntsville, the NCAC revolutionized the United States’ response to child sexual abuse. Since its creation in 1985, more than 1,000 Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) are now operating in the United States and in 41 countries throughout the world. The NCAC models, promotes, and delivers excellence in child abuse response and prevention through service, education, and leadership.

For over six years, Intrepid has had the opportunity to contribute more than $40,000 to make services possible for children in need.

“Your financial support ensures that no child or family ever pays a dime for anything that they receive, regardless of ability to pay,” said Cynthia Parker, Development Director, NCAC.

Our employees are honored and proud to support this incredible organization that serves as a beacon of hope for more than 10,000 child abuse victims every year.

Discover more about the National Children’s Advocacy Center here.