To Our Friends And Communities
Positive social impact can take many shapes and forms, as evidenced in this year’s edition of Padilla’s Report to the Community:
Raising money in memory of a dear friend and colleague. Demonstrating allyship with the LGBTQ+ community. Lending our time and talent to help organizations that protect and restore wildlife habitat, and that make a positive impact in underserved and marginalized communities.
Our work in 2022 reflects who we are as a firm and who we are as individuals — a team of dedicated, diverse, driven professionals with the ability to make a difference not just with our clients, but with our communities.
That commitment is reflected in Padilla PluggedIn — our firm-wide corporate social responsibility program consisting of individual volunteerism, agency pro bono work and charitable contributions.
It’s hard to know what 2023 will bring, but one thing is for certain — our dedication to making a positive impact to our communities will continue. Because when we plug in, we connect. And when we connect, good things happen.
Matt Kucharski,
President, Padilla
Esophageal Cancer Action Network
In honor of our friend and colleague Fred Lake, Padilla participated in the Steps to Save Lives Virtual 5K, hosted by the Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN). More than 49,000 people are living with esophageal cancer in the U.S. and fewer than 21% of all patients will survive five years. Early detection is critical, but most cases are diagnosed at later stages. Contributions from the 5K event will fund education to help raise awareness about risk factors, symptoms and the importance of early detection.
More than 30 teammates from across the agency participated in the October virtual 5K and dozens more donated. ECAN recognized Padilla as the top fundraising team for its 2022 Steps to Save Lives event — with over $3K in donations.
Walking Alongside Our Loved Ones
Pride Month / DEI
One of the largest DEI initiatives we undertook in 2022 was related to Pride Month in June. Along with agency-wide programing, each of our seven offices held Pride celebrations at the local level, which included “lunch and learn sessions” and facilitated conversations. Offices also supported local LGBTQ+ businesses such as Ruby Scoops and Big Gay Ice Cream — in addition to donations to LGBTQ+ nonprofits, such as San Francisco LGBT Center and SMYAL.
The agency hosted a conversation with Rich Ferraro, GLAAD’s CCO and Executive Producer of the GLAAD Media Awards. On our corporate blog, we shared “Pride at Padilla” — a Q&A with some of our LGBTQ+ employees and allies.
Celebrating Our Connections
Pillsbury United Communities
Padilla has played an active part in the Minneapolis story for more than 60 years — and when it came to doubling down on that engagement with our community in the aftermath of 2020, it was a no-brainer. It was clear we needed to rebuild more than bricks and mortar. We needed to build new bridges, reconnect to one another and harness our passion for equity and social justice. Pillsbury United Communities has been doing just this for 144 years, and we committed to partnering with them in their quest for positive and permanent change.
Pillsbury United Communities is a nonprofit in Minneapolis that facilitates enduring change with the vision of a world where everyone has personal, social, and economic power.
In 2022, we built upon our continued partnership by providing strategic guidance to help this important organization elevate its impact in the community.
Building Our Communities
Pheasants Forever And Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever was formed in 1982 by a group of conservation-minded outdoorspeople who saw the connection between declining pheasant populations, widespread loss of native prairie habitat, and poor conservation practices. Based on its unique and highly successful chapter-based model, it launched Quail Forever in 2005 to make an even broader impact.
With changes to the urban and rural landscape, new agriculture practices, a shifting legislative and regulatory landscape and a pandemic that is compelling more people to explore and conserve the outdoors, there was a clear need to evolve the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever brand identity.
The Padilla team, which included members of the firm’s Joe Smith brand consultancy, partnered with Pheasants Forever to revisit assumptions, question the foundations and chart a strategic path forward. The work we did to help refine the vision, purpose, positioning, competitive understanding and brand architecture has paved the way for an evolved visual identity for the organization and its brands in 2023.
Protecting Our Environments
Transformation in Action
Boston TechJam
Blu3 Global
The Minnesota Arts & Culture Coalition
Diversity + Inclusion Day Of Service
To honor Juneteenth, Padilla established a Diversity + Inclusion Day of Service in 2020. Through this program, employees can take one day off annually to perform community service related to DEI.
In 2022, volunteers helped Second Harvest Heartland to weigh and package apples and onions (more than 25,000 pounds) for food shelves and hunger relief organizations across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Along with disaster relief, The American Red Cross is known for sponsoring blood drives nationwide and during the Minnesota State Fair, a Padilla volunteer encouraged fairgoers to participate at its blood donor bus.
Cuddigan Leather, a women-owned-and-run business of fine leather goods in Minnesota was looking for ways to build more brand awareness. Padilla teammates offered counsel to help introduce its handmade high-end bags and wallets to new audiences, including consumers, media and influencers.
Walk in Their World. Wonder and Wander. Think As Many. Work Brave. Build Trust. Own It and Act on It. Make it Better.
(vs. 2020) from 10% to 16%
Leadership Roles
and Guest Speaker
Series
Non-Leadership Roles
Advisors
and Supporters
Sponsorship Hours
Career Explorer Students
Giving Our Time, Treasure And Talent
In addition to the organizations the agency supports with financial and/or volunteer support, our employees also volunteer with local and national nonprofits that reflect their personal passions.