By: Simatree Volunteering & Giving Committee (Justine Hu, Max White, Daniel Crystal, Beleyou Kebede, Mellissa Perez, Catherine Quinn)
Introduction
Simatree’s core values are “Share Openly, Support Completely, and Drive Progress.” Driving progress means we believe in the importance of supporting and leading positive changes throughout not only our organization, but also our community. As Simatree has grown over the past few years, so have our efforts towards volunteering and giving back. We have established a Volunteering & Giving Committee, formed meaningful relationships with community organizations, and dedicated time and resources to supporting causes we care about.
Volunteerism is a critical part of community progress, and studies have shown that it also has positive benefits for employees, including increased engagement, productivity, and retention—even though volunteering is “unbillable work” (HBR, 2021). When companies value volunteer work and programs, employees and potential applicants respond positively with pride in being affiliated with that company. Simatree is proud to give back where we can.
We encourage employee participation in volunteering, and we uniquely accommodate our entire team—in-person and remote. Our volunteering committee plans meaningful initiatives that include opportunities such as donations and sponsorships as well as virtual activities like document transcription to aid in public research. With a team comprised of 40% fully remote workers across the country, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate and give back where it really counts.
Causes Supported
Simatree has been actively giving back to the community since it was established, with team members supporting different organizations and communities for years prior. We are passionate about supporting different communities and populations in need of direct aid, funds, and increased awareness. Below is an overview of the different organizations and initiatives we have proudly supported.
Lunchbox of Love (July 2022)
Lunchbox of Love is a national organization that addresses food insecurity by ensuring that underserved communities have access to not only healthy meals, but also comprehensive services to fight poverty and homelessness. Simatree provided donations to support the continuation of that vision.
Ayuda (December 2022)
Ayuda is a DMV-based non-profit that provides direct support services to low-income immigrants. The organization is comprised of dedicated professionals that specialize in legal, social, and language services to help immigrants navigate the complex justice system while breaking down social barriers. Simatree sponsored two families over the holiday season, ensuring that they received necessary provisions and gifts for children.
People’s First Charitable Foundation (May 2022 and April 2023)
The People First Charitable Foundation was founded in 2021 to address mental health initiatives exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the foundation has expanded to support hunger initiatives, disaster relief, and other charities worldwide. Simatree participated in their Brews & Boards fundraising event in Atlanta, which raised thousands of dollars for local hunger initiatives, including the Maui Food Bank which supports families impacted by the devastating fire disaster.
SOME (July 2023)
SOME (So Others May Eat) is a DC-based non-profit that works to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness in the nation’s capital by providing holistic services to low-income communities, senior citizens, veterans, and those affected by physical and mental illness. Simatree collected and assembled more than 30 emergency hygiene kits to support SOME’s mission.
Team Bernie McCreesh (Annual)
Team Bernie McCreesh raises funds and brings awareness to organizations dedicated to researching and treating patients with oral cancer. Simatree participates in the organization’s annual Team Bernie Golf Tournament, raising donations to support the University of Maryland School of Dentistry Dental Oncology Clinic, which provides comprehensive care for head and neck oncology patients.
ZSL Instant Wild (November 2023)
ZSL Instant Wild supports critical wildlife research and conservation efforts worldwide by allowing users to directly tag and identify images of animals in a virtual format. These identifications are used for many different conservation projects ranging from the monitoring of endangered animals in the Russian Steppe to the understanding of logging threats in Malaysia. Simatree team members participated by virtually tagging across a variety of projects on ZSL.
Smithsonian Digital Volunteer’s Transcription Center (November 2023)
The Smithsonian has a large archive of old documents that have yet to be transcribed. In a continuous effort to preserve and unearth history’s untold stories, volunteers can virtually transcribe documents to support critical preservation. Documents range from local government records detailing African American history to lost scientific research from some of the nation’s oldest universities. Simatree team members participated across transcription projects, helping to complete the transcription of multiple historic documents.
Stepping Stones (December 2023 and February 2024)
Stepping Stones Shelter in Rockville, Maryland provides emergency support services, including food and shelter, to local families in crisis situations. They provide emergency housing as well as post-shelter support, such as stocked backpacks and holiday provisions. Simatree supported Stepping Stones with two main initiatives. In December 2023, we collected 40 gift donations for the shelter’s Holiday Boutique, which allows families to “shop” for gifts. In February 2024, we went on-site to help deep clean the house, organize donations, and assemble packages.
Foster Love (June 2024)
Foster Love is a non-profit organization that works to support and improve the lives of children in foster care across the country. By providing funding, education resources, and other critical services to foster agencies, Foster Love ensures that children receive the dignity, respect, and support they deserve. Simatree supported Foster Love through a virtual event, coloring and decorating various birthday, STEM, and superhero kits to be packaged and provided directly to foster children.
Love for Our Elders (February 2025)
Love for Our Elders is an organization that aims to support older adults facing social isolation or loneliness through handwritten letters from volunteers. Simatree staff wrote and sent 13 letters to various recipients in February.
Beyond these initiatives, our team members are passionate about a variety of other causes, lending volunteer support to efforts around environmental conservation, cultural education, youth mentorship, animal care, and more.
Key Metrics
Despite a headcount of fewer than 25, Simatree has had a substantial positive impact on the organizations we’ve partnered with.
- 70% of Simatree staff have participated in at least one volunteering event.
- To date, Simatree has dedicated 97 hours to directly supporting volunteering events, excluding time spent on planning and preparation.
- Across events, we have donated $19K dollars and donated 98 gifts for various emergency and support needs.
- To ensure inclusive volunteering, 80% of our events were either fully virtual or included components accessible to remote staff.
Community Impact
Don’t listen to us! Here’s what some of our community partners had to say:
“Simatree– We owe you all the thanks, thank you so much to you and your team—you all did an outstanding job, and we couldn’t be more grateful for your support!”
– Shelter Assistant at Stepping Stones Shelter
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all so much for your support. It truly takes a village… everyone made a difference in making our clients and their children’s holiday season that much better. A big thank you for your above and beyond support for our families… contributions were beyond generous.”
– Volunteer Coordinator, Ayuda
“Thank you for participating in our 2023 Team Bernie McCreesh Golf Tournament…we are so very proud to announce that we were able to contribute over $10,000 directly to the Dental Oncology Clinic at the University of Maryland Dental School – $1,500 more than last year!”
– Team Bernie McCreesh
“Simatree– Thanks so much for supporting Donate Now by Lunch Box of Love! We truly appreciate it.”
– Lunch Box of Love
“Amazing work! Thank you for coming together to support children in foster care ❤️”
– Foster Love
What’s Next?
Volunteering does not end with a report. In alignment with our core values, Simatree intends to continue driving progress by servicing our communities. Our contributions have been strong so far, and through increased structure, tracking, and outreach, we are excited for what is to come.
Moving forward, we also aim to deepen our impact by building strong, lasting relationships with non-profits. By fostering direct partnerships, we can gain deeper insight into the challenges faced by the communities we serve and tailor our volunteer efforts to create meaningful, lasting changes. Through ongoing engagement, we can amplify our efforts, support critical initiatives, and build a sustainable program for continued service that empowers individuals and strengthens communities.
