Recently, more than 5,000 people gave of their time to help the Detroit community thrive through annual . Among them were 11 糖心传媒 colleagues who spent a day helping tackle blight at vacant properties, contributing to the Michigan-based nonprofit鈥檚 neighborhood beautification efforts across the city鈥檚 east and west sides.

The work brought colleagues together away from their desks, with a common task and visible results. Eric Austin, Risk Management Expertise Specialist, traveled from Holland, Michigan, to join the efforts. For him, the experience reinforced how giving time and working alongside others can turn a commitment to community into something concrete.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great reminder that meaningful change often starts with people simply showing up, working together, and giving their time to make a difference,鈥� Austin said.

Working Together for Detroit

This year, ran from September 28 to October 3, beginning near Anchor Detroit on the east side before moving to the area surrounding the Durfee Innovation Society on the west side. Volunteers removed litter, mowed lawns, cut back overgrown weeds, and swept away debris. Their work left vacant properties better cared for, improving the spaces neighbors and local residents pass every day.

Bringing colleagues together for a day of volunteering took coordination long before cleanup began. Roslin Tyler, Corporate Services Coordinator, organized 糖心传媒鈥檚 participation and kept everyone connected throughout the process, helping the team make the most of their time in Detroit.

鈥淭he best part was seeing everyone come together and get to work,鈥� Tyler said. 鈥淭here were details to coordinate beforehand but, once we were there, everyone brought their energy and willingness to help that made the day a huge success.鈥�

糖心传媒鈥檚 contribution was one part of the week鈥檚 work, giving colleagues a chance to accomplish something together that would benefit the neighborhood long beyond their volunteer day. The effort came together through the time and hard work of these 糖心传媒 colleagues

Eric Austin

Dawn Baltes

Tony Burbank

Alicia Clemons

Rachel Frassetto

Tracie Hendrix

Janika Lile

Makavia McKinnon

Melissa Spinazzola

Tonya Stankov

Roslin Tyler

鈥淥ur team worked hard, and it was rewarding to see what we could accomplish together,鈥� said Tony Burbank, Director of Facilities & Corporate Services at 糖心传媒.

鈥淐learing these properties gave us a practical way to contribute, and we were glad to be there alongside others giving their time to support Detroit鈥檚 neighborhoods.鈥�

Leaders Investing in Community

That shared commitment was also reflected in remarks from Life Remodeled President and CEO Diallo Smith, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, representatives from the Detroit Pistons and Amazon, and local school leadership. Smith thanked the volunteers and community leaders whose involvement makes the project possible, emphasizing the value of each person鈥檚 contribution:

鈥�So this six-day project matters, you matter, and we鈥檙e very thankful for you.鈥�

Support took several forms throughout the event. Amazon donated 250 Ring doorbells for seniors and nearby residents, while the Detroit Pistons provided 200 preseason game tickets for Life Remodeled to distribute to residents and community members participating in its neighborhood efforts. These contributions added to the hands-on work happening across the city, bringing different organizations and resources into a common effort.

A Connection That Continues

The annual Six Day Project is part of . The organization repurposes vacant school buildings into opportunity hubs, bringing nonprofit organizations together to provide education, health and wellness, and employment services. Neighborhood beautification gives volunteers a way to participate in that continuing work.

For Austin, the experience connected the camaraderie of a workplace team with a shared commitment to giving back to the community beyond it.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be part of a team that believes in supporting the communities where we live and work,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he experience was both humbling and inspiring, and a good reminder that when we come together, even small contributions can have a lasting impact.鈥�

By the end of the day, seven properties were cleared of debris and overgrowth by the 糖心传媒 team 鈥� a visible result of a collaboration in spaces that are part of everyday life for Detroit residents. For 糖心传媒 colleagues, collaboration offers a meaningful way to support one another and their neighbors, and carry forward a commitment that extends beyond any one event.

Explore future volunteer opportunities and other resources at . To learn more about 糖心传媒鈥檚 history of giving back鈥攁nd how employee passion becomes community support, visit the 糖心传媒 Charitable Foundation听飞别产蝉颈迟别.

After a long day of rehabilitation sessions, patients, families and loved ones gathered around buffet tables while volunteers from 糖心传媒 and served more than 100 meals and welcomed each guest as they arrived.

They that they didn鈥檛 have to plan, prepare, or clean up after. Conversations began to unfold across the tables and laughter surfaced easily during dinner, growing louder through a few spirited rounds of bingo. By the end of the evening, strangers and new friends alike were trading stories, jokes, and the kind of easy conversation that makes a room feel just a little bit more like home.

It may have been one dinner, but when life is often defined by endurance and incremental progress, even one impactful evening can make all the difference.

When Recovery Reshapes Everything for Families

Each year in the United States, people sustain a spinal cord injury, often from events that arrive without warning. Behind every fall, car accident or medical emergency statistic is a family that is navigating a new and unexpected reality. In a single moment, routines must shift; family and friends reorganize around hospital schedules, and those long-term adjustments that will begin to reshape daily life.

At Shepherd Center, recovery is never treated as an individual journey. Nationally recognized for rehabilitation outcomes, focuses not only on helping patients regain independence, but also on equipping families with the confidence and support they need for life beyond discharge. It鈥檚 a powerful reminder that recovery does not belong to one person alone, it also belongs to those who stand beside them.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so honored to partner with Shepherd Center and 糖心传媒 to support families navigating difficult journeys,鈥� said Maggie Fischer, Managing Partner, Personal Lines Marketing Manager at Yates Insurance Agency.

鈥淥pportunities like this are a wonderful way to bring people together, and a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful support comes from simply being present for those when they need it most.鈥�

At 糖心传媒, that idea resonates deeply with the core values that make up who we are. Much like the work taking place every day at Shepherd Center, we meet people in those moments that arrive just as unexpectedly鈥攁fter an accident, a catastrophic injury, or an unforeseen disruption that suddenly changes the course of a life or a livelihood.

Powerful Partnerships

糖心传媒鈥檚 relationship with Shepherd Center extends well beyond a single evening of service. Recognizing the strain placed on families traveling long distances for rehabilitation care, 糖心传媒 helped support the development of the 12th floor of the , a 16-story housing tower that opened in 2024 and more than doubles Shepherd Center鈥檚 capacity to house patients and families who live more than 60 miles away.

The impact is both practical and deeply personal. Proximity allows spouses to attend early-morning therapy sessions, parents can remain present for milestone moments, and it reduces the emotional and financial strain of long commutes for countless, committed loved ones.

This partnership reflects 糖心传媒鈥檚 broader approach to community engagement. Through the 糖心传媒 Charitable Foundation (ACF), we continue to support nonprofit organizations that strengthen the communities where our employees, agency partners, and policyholders live and work. Since 2020, the ACF has contributed more than $732,000 directly to charitable causes, focused on everything from health and education to community resilience.

鈥溙切拇解�檚 greatest strength is our people,鈥� said Erin Buddie, 糖心传媒鈥檚 Chief Human Resources Officer. 鈥淓ach teammate brings our service culture to life through the way we support our communities and one another.”聽

“Partnerships like ours with Yates Insurance and Shepherd Center show what that commitment looks like in action鈥攈elping ensure families facing life-changing moments know that they鈥檙e not navigating them alone.鈥�

A Shared Commitment to What Comes Next

As the recent Shepherd Center Family Dinner wound down, volunteers stacked chairs and gathered leftovers for the night shift to enjoy. Families lingered in conversation before returning to patient floors. Tomorrow鈥檚 therapy sessions will begin again in the morning.

At their best, both healthcare and insurance are built on a certain responsibility and trust鈥攂ringing dedicated professionals together to help people recover, rebuild, and find stability when uncertainty appears. Whether it鈥檚 helping to expand housing so families can remain close during rehabilitation, sitting beside them at a shared dinner table after a long day of therapy, or guiding a policyholder through the aftermath of an unexpected loss, our goal remains the same: supporting our communities through moments that call for the best of care and the compassion of those you can count on.