Community Giving and Support

Giving Back to Your Community

In 2022, Stewart’s Shops/Dake Family has a goal to donate $9 million. Stewart’s Shops and the two related family foundations will each donate $3 million to thousands of local charities. This total includes our  Holiday Match Program in which Stewart’s matches all customer donations made in our shops from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day. Stewart’s Holiday Match customers have helped us raise over $36 million for thousands of organizations since the program’s inception in 1986. Also, as a good corporate citizen, we support a local charity at many of our new shop openings.

How does it work?

It is never a question of whether we’ll give, but rather to whom. We try to be as generous as possible to a large number of organizations but are committed to making the maximum positive impact in the categories we consider a priority.

Our selection of organizations is based on the following considerations: We support organizations within our market area that focus on meeting the changing needs of their recipients rather than perpetuating the status quo. We have an interest in the area of kids, their recreation and education. We do not support adult recreation groups. We value extensive volunteer support and minimum fund-raising costs, avoiding organizations that are already tax supported or have a large amount of overhead.

We avoid cause-related and religious organizations*, as we feel they are a matter for an individual’s preference and conscience. Our communities have more than enough specific needs, so we give to those providing a service, as opposed to those supporting a cause, and we save our contribution dollars for people versus animals. We support local organizations that may not have as broad a base of funding or have the wide-spread emotional appeal of national health organizations. We refrain from secondary giving in which we give to someone, so they can in-turn give to someone else. We do not donate directly to individuals.

In addition to this reasonably structured program, we also have funds reserved for those unusual opportunities that may have an especially positive impact on our communities. We cannot support these special needs on a continual basis without hurting the overall program but can provide one-time funding so they can get back on their feet.

Also, we offer a Matching Gift Campaign towards those projects we find worthy of a community push. The campaign can be for one week in two shops or two weeks in one shop, where we match customers’ contributions for a particular project up to $5,000. An example of this would be to help a community playground build. This is just another way We Are Closer To You.

Let us share with the community how Stewart’s Shops donations have helped your organization or event. Please send pictures to [email protected] (.jpg or .png files preferred).

*We may donate to religious organizations if they serve the community as a whole via soup kitchen, food pantry, etc. thus providing a service.

 

Holiday Match Program

Holiday Match is a program that started in 1986 to specifically benefit organizations/programs for kids under the age of 18 in the areas of social services, health, education, recreations, and the arts. To date, with the help of our customers, we have raised over $36 million for local children’s charities. We collect donations in our shops from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day**. We match our customers’ donations dollar for dollar, penny for penny, with no administrative fees. In 2022, together we raised more than $2 million! Non-profit 501c3 organizations are able to apply for funds starting Thanksgiving Day through January 31st. Applications are reviewed, and allocations are made in March.

 

Saturday, April 15, 2023 the Capitol Arts Complex held an instrument petting zoo in the Capitol Theatre prior to the afternoon matinee. We’d like to thank Stewart’s oliday Match grant for sponsoring the event, and everyone who contributed their time, brought their instruments and shared comments with the curious:

  • Anna Anggaputra  Violin
  • Alex Brown  Bass clarinet
  • Dakota Morrison French horn
  • Elijah Campbell  Trombone
  • Karabrie Wiggins (Viola & clarinet
  • Rachel  Cello
  • Oliver Robertson Viola + Trumpet
  • Sam Robertson  Percussion
  • Joanna Robertson  Cello
  • Colton Campbell Tuba
  • Felicia Huang Flute
  • Georgia Gilboy Clarinet
  • Big Apple Music- Assorted Band Instruments

The video below features comments from those who  brought instruments to display.