How TQL employees turn holiday giving into community impact
TQL Cares for the Holidays unites offices nationwide for charitable projects and volunteerismBy Shannon Russell
Key points:
- TQL’ers came together for TQL Cares for the Holidays, Nov. 10 to Dec. 19.
- Seventy-five teams from TQL offices nationwide completed 125+ giving projects.
- Charity Captains, or TQL volunteer leaders, organized initiatives including food, toy and clothing donations.
“From lending a hand to national organizations to supporting local charities, TQL’ers never miss a chance to make the season brighter for those who need it most,” said Morgan, a TQL employee and one of the many Charity Captains who volunteer to organize team-wide initiatives.
TQL Cares, the cornerstone of TQL’s community outreach, empowers employees to give their time, talent and resources to causes they care about. Since 2015, TQL Cares for the Holidays has turned the spirit of the season into meaningful action with help from the TQL Foundation’s match of employee goodwill.
During the 2025 edition, Nov. 10 to Dec. 19, TQL’ers made the holidays brighter for thousands of people through:
- 125+ projects nationwide completed by 75 TQL teams
- 5,000+ nonperishable food items donated
- 3,000+ toys and 650+ clothing items donated
- 800+ hours logged by TQL volunteers
Food and fellowship
Nine volunteers in TQL’s Pittsburgh office prepared dinner for Ronald McDonald House of Pittsburgh and Morgantown. The nonprofit helps families stay close to their seriously ill children while they receive medical care.
Megan, TQL Pittsburgh’s Charity Captain, said TQL’ers served a meal and listened to families’ stories.
“It’s one of those places that sticks with you,” Megan said. “Once you’ve been there, you get why it matters. Families are trying so hard to keep things normal for their kids while going through something so heavy. Being able to give them even the tiniest bit of comfort through a home cooked meal feels special.”
The office’s community support didn’t stop there. TQL Pittsburgh also hosted a toy drive for Ronald McDonald House, and its Women in Logistics (WIL) team decorated holiday cookies.
Chili experts unite
Did someone say chili? Two TQL offices spiced up the holidays with chili cookoffs, raising funds to honor veterans and help children in need.
TQL’s Cash, Commissions and Credit teams in Cincinnati supported Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit that salutes U.S. veterans during the holidays by placing wreaths on their graves and saying each service member’s name aloud. Through its chili cookoff fundraiser, the group ensured 16 wreaths were laid at service members’ cemeteries.
Morgan, a TQL Edison Charity Captain and member of the U.S. Army National Guard, said TQL’s culture of giving galvanizes people to do good work together.
“For me, TQL Cares for the Holidays is a reminder that we’re encouraged to take care of more than just the work on our desks. We’re given space to support causes that matter to us personally, and people show up for it,” Morgan said.
Stephen, a Charity Captain in the Louisville office, said 12 TQL’ers put their own spin on chili entries, and office members made donations to sample the wares. TQL’er Jacob won first place for chili infused with ghost peppers and beef tallow.
The chili cookoff proceeds were donated to Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville.
“We raised money for a good cause and had fun with it,” Stephen said. “The holidays are a great time to get together and help others.”
Double the impact
TQL’s Process Improvement and Financial Systems teams sit together in Cincinnati headquarters, so it was only natural for them to team up for the Freestore Foodbank.
Nine volunteers helped assemble 960 Power Packs, or nutritious, easy-to-prepare food that helps kids avoid weekend hunger. The meals contained items that could be easily opened and prepared by young hands.
Kristan, a Charity Captain at Cincinnati HQ, said the two TQL teams wanted to volunteer with a positive and impactful organization, and the Freestore Foodbank checked both boxes.
“It was a great chance to get out of the office, collaborate in a meaningful way, and ensure local children have access to nourishing food while school is out of session,” she said.
Matters of the heart
Fifteen TQL’ers from the Daytona office donated 200 items to the Volusia County Thanksgiving Brigade, an organization that provides holiday meal kits to families in need. TQL’ers filled seven boxes with Thanksgiving dinner fixings and gift cards.
The cause was especially important to Hannah, TQL Daytona’s Charity Captain.
“As a child, we had to go to food banks and churches to get food for our family, so I know how tough the holiday season can be,” Hannah said. “Partnering with an organization that’s already building these holiday meal kits helps take the stress off families.”
Meanwhile, Greenville Charity Captain Mo led a heartwarming initiative in South Carolina. Greenville’s WIL team assembled 20 blankets for Project Linus, a nonprofit that provides handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need.
Mo learned about the charity through a workshop at a local library, where she listened to women tell stories as they made blankets. Later, she was touched by her coworkers’ interest in the TQL Cares for the Holidays project.
“It was amazing seeing so many people who want to step up and make blankets for the holiday season and give their time to really make a difference,” Mo said. “I’m so lucky that anything I suggest to this group is met with excitement and determination to get it done.”
These efforts show how TQL’ers support their communities year-round. Join a team where giving is a part of the culture. Explore TQL careers and make an impact today.
