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2025 Report To The Community

To Our Friends And Communities

It’s my pleasure to share the latest edition of Padilla’s Report to the Community, which reflects the meaningful impact we make in our backyards and neighborhoods and the inspiration and passion that come when we give back.

Padilla PluggedIn, our agency-wide corporate social responsibility program, is central in our commitment to support individual volunteerism, pro bono work and charitable contributions. Our employee-led office volunteer activities and our Volunteer of the Quarter honorees are just two examples of how doing good in our communities strengthens our own culture. Our Matching Gift program further amplifies efforts — rewarding financial generosity with even more giving.

Collectively, our work in 2025 reflects who we are as a firm and as individuals — a dedicated, diverse, driven team with the ability to make a difference not only for our clients, but also for the many deserving nonprofits we support.

This year offers us more opportunities to expand our reach and make an even greater difference. We’re looking forward to continuing our culture of caring in 2026 and hope it offers inspiration for others to do the same.

Matt Kucharski

Matt Kucharski Signature Matt Kucharski
President, Padilla

BestPrep

BestPrep: Inspire. Educate. Connect.

BestPrep provides educational programs to students in grades 4 to 12. Its mission is to prepare students with business, career and financial literacy skills through hands-on experiences that inspire success in work and life. Since 1976, BestPrep has served more than 1.8 million youth through programs offered at low or no cost to students, teachers and schools in Minnesota.

Padilla led a Purpose to Action (P2A) strategic planning session to define goals, audiences, strategies and tactics to help BestPrep leverage its upcoming 50th anniversary. This milestone, along with the retirement of its founder, will serve as a springboard into the next 50 years. Going forward, we will help execute a comprehensive communications plan to increase corporate sponsorship and donor engagement, as well as launch activities to connect volunteers and students across the state.

Day of Service

Padilla PluggedIn Day of Service is part of our corporate social responsibility program and gives employees an opportunity to volunteer in their communities and expand their horizons through endeavors important to them. This initiative supports our Shared Values, including Walk in Their World and Wonder and Wander. Here are just a few of the ways our teammates chose to give back in 2025:

The University of St. Thomas’ ThreeSixty Journalism program helps Minnesota youth learn the art of storytelling. Bao Ha supported its summer workshop for high school students as a writing coach for college admissions essays.

Candice Eley served as the provisional ballot officer for the City of Richmond. Volunteering on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus, she helped many first-time voters get registered for the statewide general election.

FeedMore collects, prepares and distributes food to neighbors in need throughout Central Virginia. Chris Romero volunteered during the holidays for a kitchen shift, peeling as many carrots as possible, which would be used in several dishes, including a carrot slaw.

Housing Families First is an organization that seeks to help families experiencing homelessness by providing short-term shelter, food, and resources to help them create a transition plan into permanent housing. Jen Baybutt (and family) prepared and served dinner for the 40 residents at Hilliard House.

Jen Weeks volunteered at Nourishing Hope, a Chicago food bank that provides food, socialmental health counseling to individuals in need. During her shift, Jen helped clean fruit for personalized family food boxes.

BloomAgainBklyn repurposes donated flowers into fresh bouquets for community members who could use a little joy, comfort and connection. Nikki Kang cleaned, trimmed and arranged flowers for residents at the Cobble Hill Health Center.

Padilla Pluggedin

Our agency-wide corporate social responsibility program includes taking time out for employee-led activities that help support our local nonprofits:

Peter Paul RVA

Our team in Richmond, Virginia, helped to kick off the school year by assembling snack kits for the organization’s after-school program. Peter Paul RVA offers a full range of programs and services to fulfill its mission: to support neighbors in Richmond’s East End and to educate its students, equipping them to serve as positive contributors to their families, communities, and society.

Encore Community Services

Our New York team volunteered to assemble meals at the Encore Community Services Aging Through Arts Center in the theatre district. Encore provides a range of services to help NYC’s older adults continue to live healthy independent lives.

Greater Twin Cities United Way

Our Minneapolis office hosted a chili cook-off, silent auction and food drive to support the local United Way. Its vision is a community where all people thrive regardless of income, race or place.

Pilsen Food Pantry

During the holiday season, our Chicago office held a food drive to support the Pilsen Food Pantry, which aims to improve health and social outcomes through the distribution of fresh, culturally appropriate food, clothing, housewares and community events.

God’s Love We Deliver

Each year, the New York office marks the anniversary of 9/11 not only with remembrance but also by giving back to our community in a positive way. In 2025, we helped prepare meals with God’s Love We Deliver, an organization that provides free, medically tailored, nutritious meals to New Yorkers living with chronic illness.

Each quarter, Padilla recognizes employees who volunteer regularly outside of the office and makes a $250 donation to that nonprofit organization.

Jenn LaVardera holding a puppy

Jenn LaVardera

Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) in Hampton Bays, NY is an open-admission, no-kill shelter that cares for homeless animals and places them in forever homes. During one of Jenn’s dog-walking shifts, she made a surprise cameo in CBS’ Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin, who was there to feature SASF and hard-to-adopt pets.

Lauren Hoffman wearing a baseball cap. She has a white chicken on her shoulder

Lauren Hoffman

In the wake of the Los Angeles fires, Lauren began volunteering at The Cook’s Garden, an animal sanctuary and urban farm in Venice, CA. The organization adopts rabbits and chickens and maintains a small garden that supplies eggs and vegetables to local restaurants. She helps care for the animals and the community garden.

Lindsay Mann, seated while holding a black cat.

Lindsay Mann

Cat Town in Oakland, CA, rescues cats most at risk in shelters — those who are elderly, shy, stressed, sick or injured — and helps them find safe, loving homes. Since 2022, Lindsay has supported essential cleaning tasks (washing food bowls, litter boxes, toys and linens) and cared for kittens at a satellite adoption location.

Kenny Devine

Kenny Devine

Kenny has been a board member of BestPrep since 2024, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that provides educational and professional development programs for students. He applied his corporate communications and media relations skills to support a major leadership transition for the organization, among other initiatives.

The Collective

In its fifth year, our partnership continues with The Collective, a group of diverse external advisors who provide insight and guidance to ensure our work for clients is inclusive and culturally respectful.

Employee Resource Group (ERG)

In 2025, we launched our first ERG dedicated to employee mental health and wellness. This voluntary group meets monthly to explore resources, discuss work–life balance, share actionable tips, and support one another to strengthen mental well-being and foster a more resilient company culture.

Bubble Break Series

Bubble Break

We offer ongoing training for staff, which includes bringing in guest speakers, as part of our  Bubble Break series. This program helps commemorate observances such as Black History Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Pride Month and more. We have invited diverse contributors, including play specialists, chefs, writers and industry experts, to explore a wide variety of inclusive topics.

Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA)

Jeff Wilson, SVP of Social Impact at Padilla, presented on the State of DEI in the United States (and Beyond) to PRSA Richmond and Philadelphia chapters. The session explored key factors driving DEI changes in the U.S. and their impact on organizations and communities — including legal influences, social media dynamics, political actions and international responses to U.S. changes and what it means for communicators.

Take Flight

Padilla partners with other agencies to offer an inclusive communications career exploration externship program for students interested in public relations and communications. In its fifth year, the Take Flight program has 15 students participating from 11 colleges and universities.

Diversity Action Alliance (DAA)

Padilla is a signatory for the DAA, a coalition of public relations and communications leaders joining forces to accelerate progress in achieving meaningful and tangible results across our profession.

Walk In Their World.
Wonder And Wander.
Think As Many.
Work Brave.
Build Trust.
Own It And Act On It.
Make It Better.
7
Inclusion + Belonging Trainings and Guest Speakers Series
23%
Supplier Diversity
69%
Women in Senior Leadership Roles
+60%
increase in BIPOC employees (vs. 2020) from 10% to 16%
70%
Women in Non-Leadership Roles
10
Collective Advisors
21
Inclusion + Belonging Council, Champions and Supporters
622
Hours: Pro Bono/In-Kind Sponsorship
15
Take Flight Students

Giving Our Time, Treasure And Talent

Giving Our Time, Treasure And Talent / Giving Our Time, Treasure And Talent / Giving Our Time, Treasure And Talent /
Giving Our Time, Treasure And Talent / Giving Our Time, Treasure And Talent / Giving Our Time, Treasure And Talent /

Launched in 2023, Padilla contributes up to $250 for employees’ volunteer organizations and $1,000 for employees’ board service. In 2025, Padilla’s Matching Gift program helped support organizations that hold personal connections with our employees.

Rosalie Morton

Rosalie Morton – Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)

The VMFA is the only U.S. art museum open 365 days a year with free general admission, and it’s within walking distance from Rosalie’s house, so you’ll often find her enjoying the Sculpture Garden with dog Coupe. She also enjoys lectures throughout the year that the matching gift affords her to attend. Fun fact: VMFA’s collection includes a drawing by her great-great grandmother.

Kris Patrow

Kris Patrow – The Loft Literary Center

Kris Patrow serves as vice chair of the board for The Loft, one of the nation’s leading independent literary centers. “As a PR professional, former journalist and published author, I have always believed in the power of the written word to inform, inspire and unite people. We live in a time when this is needed now more than ever. It’s truly an honor to support and advocate for this organization.”

Heather Rauscher

Heather Rauscher – Food Bank For NYC

In New York City, 1.4 million residents are food insecure. The Food Bank For NYC is the largest hunger relief organization in the city, working efficiently with nearly 800 local partners to deliver food to people across all five boroughs. Heather’s contribution and Padilla’s support, during a holiday triple-match campaign, were converted into 8,000 meals for New Yorkers in need.

Jeff Wilson

Jeff Wilson – Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts)

Jeff Wilson serves as chair of the board for VisArts, which serves the community through classes, exhibitions, programs, camps and special events. “VisArts is more than classes and programs. For many Richmonders, it is their third place where they can create community. I’m honored to serve VisArts and grateful for the support provided by Padilla.”

In addition to the nonprofit organizations the agency supports with financial donations and/or employee volunteering efforts, our senior leaders also give back through board service or significant volunteer engagements.

2025 Organizations:
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Arlington Public Schools Welcome & Resource Center Back Pack Buddies Foundation Commission on Public Relations Education Covenant House Deep Run Horse Show Association Evelyn D. Reinhart Guest House at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital Fed by Blue Financial Executives International (Twin Cities) FINNOVATION Lab Friends of Robbins Library Hamline University Board of Trustees Harbor House Hardy School PTO Board Job-Bolt Board of Advisors Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council Menttium Minneapolis Parks Foundation Minnesota Keystone Program Minnesota PRSA Chapter  Minnesota PRSA Diversity Equity and Inclusion Minnesota Technology Association National Food Policy Conference Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever Pillsbury United Communities PRSA Banking and Finance Section PRSA College of Fellows PRSA Technology Section Rotary International Science Museum of Minnesota Seafood Nutrition Partnership SEED SPOT Stillwater Area Hockey Association Stillwater Traveling Basketball The Impact Guild The Loft Literary Center University of Minnesota Cancer Philanthropic Board Visual Arts Center of Richmond Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative