At the core of Simantel you’ll find 160+ Simantelites passionate about making their communities a better place. Because our employees now span 23 states nationwide, that means we’ve touched more communities, reached more people in need, helped more organizations, volunteered more hours and sponsored more charitable causes than ever before.
Broadening Our Reach
We’re excited to be able to give back in so many ways, but all those acts of kindness require a lot of coordination. That’s where Simantel’s Just Cause committee comes in. The employee-led group helps uncover the causes Simantelites care about most and organize volunteer opportunities to build relationships within the wider community that also align with our agency giving strategy.
Every month the committee reviews requests for support and expands outreach to plan more involvement opportunities and organize continued community support where Simantelites live, work and play. And to help make it easier for employees to donate their time and talent, Simantel provides up to 4 paid hours of volunteer time off (VTO) per calendar year. From book drives to neighborhood clean-ups, Just Cause helps us do more good more often and make a greater impact on causes near and dear to the hearts of Simantelites…“just ‘cause.”
2023 Highlights
Our communities need people like us. That’s why we’re thrilled to have been able to support a variety of causes in the Peoria area and beyond with over 30 donations and sponsorships. Here’s a look at some of the activities we were honored to participate in throughout 2023.
Fighting Food Insecurity
Volunteers prepared bulk food items for distribution to local food pantries at Midwest Food Bank of Peoria and set up groceries to help provide accessible, affordable fresh fruits and vegetables at Market 309. Simantelites also supported a food drive sponsored by the Peoria Women’s Club.
Facilitating Education
257 books were collected for the Pleasant Valley School book drive and dozens of school supplies were donated to the East Bluff Community Center and Pleasant Valley School District #62.
We believe strongly in embracing diversity and cultivating local talent. That’s why we created the Simantel Diverse Minds Scholarship at Illinois Central College. 2023 marked the third year this endowed scholarship has been available for an African American student pursuing education in a marketing related field.
Fostering Leadership
We were excited to not only attend but also help sponsor the inaugural Young Professionals Rise Summit designed to connect and empower the next generation of leaders.
Several Simantelites are members of the Junior League of Peoria and we’re proud to contribute to the group’s mission to create confident women empowered to lead through encouragement, collaboration, networking, volunteering and training.
Who doesn’t love Girl Scout cookies? We jumped at the chance to help out a new local troop as well as those across the country with their cookie sales.
Celebrating the Arts & Beautifying the Community
In celebration of National Volunteer Month and Earth Day in April, our teams pitched in to pick up litter in the Water Street Clean-Up effort.
Simantelites volunteered to help out at the Big Picture Street Festival. Two of our own even took home second place in the chalk art competition.
Thanks to Big Picture Peoria and talented local artists, the back of our office building was transformed into a massive vibrant mural in celebration of long-time agency owner Maggie Whalen Misselhorn’s retirement.
Volunteers conducted tours of the historic Madison Theatre and creative staff lent their talents to design promotional materials for the Blockbuster Bash to raise money and awareness for the renovation and reestablishment of the historic venue in downtown Peoria.
Impacting Lives
Simantel was among the sponsors of the American Red Cross Superhero Summer Blood Drive and 19th Annual 12 Hours of Giving. Several Simantelites even rolled up their sleeves to give the gift of life.
Simantel players took to the court to compete in DVI’s 2023 Corporate Pickleball Challenge to benefit the youth programs provided by Peoria’s South Side Mission.
Throughout the year, as Simantelites popped a top, the tabs were collected and donated to the pop tab recycling program to benefit the many families served by Ronald McDonald House.
Because of our amazing employees, clients, partners and community, we were able to help make the holidays a little brighter through initiatives like Toys for Tots, Giving Tuesday and our Holiday Giving program. One of our biggest gifts collectively enabled the purchase of 22 gift cards to help students and their families at Pleasant Valley Elementary School have a great holiday.
Making a Difference
Thank you to the many organizations working tirelessly to improve their communities. We’re honored to contribute to your missions through both our corporate commitment and the individual efforts of our people. Our Just Cause committee is committed to Simantel employees and their interests. And we’re looking forward to more opportunities to continue paying it forward in the coming year.
