Fostering Stronger Communities Through the Power of Giving Back: 2024 PT Day of Service

Athletico team members come together each year for an annual Day of Service to impact lives outside our clinic walls. Athletico has a long history of helping build healthier, more vibrant communities, and our employees share a passion for giving back in many ways throughout the year.

In recognition of Global PT Day of Service this month, 375+ Athletico employees from across our network participated in 28+ service projects, volunteering 268+ hours to support the health and wellness of the communities in which they live and work.

Read more about the ways our employees gave back this year:

Volunteering for a cause:

Hunger is a persistent issue in many communities, and our teams spent time serving at local food pantries like Feed My Starving Children and Mid-Ohio Food Bank, where we packed hundreds of boxes of food for needy families.

Teams also volunteered with organizations like PADS Lake County, which provides trauma-informed support, resources, and shelter to individuals and families experiencing homelessness; Habitat for Humanity, where teams helped build a house for a family in need; Gateway Housing Service, where team members rebuilt a wheelchair ramp and did yard work. Sleep in Heavenly Peace, where our team built beds for children in the community in need, and Lemons of Love, where we packed chemo care packages for cancer patients.

“There are so many ways that people need to be helped or supported in life. When times are especially tough, not knowing where you will sleep or what you will eat can be very scary. It was great for the soul knowing that 40 fewer people will have that concern today.” – Lauren Cosentino, Manager of Athletic Training, Illinois

“It was a great feeling to help a person in need be more independent! He can now go in and out of his house!” – Misty Culp, Clinic Manager, Missouri

Organizing donation drives:

Team members partnered with local community organizations to host various donation drives. School supplies were collected throughout the summer, and bookbags were packed for Supplies for Teachers, People’s Resource Center, and School District 54 to support the start of a new school year.

Our team also donated items to Shephard’s Office, which helps homeless individuals; Fellowship Housing, which supports single moms in moving from crisis to long-term stability; the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team; and Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.

“We have all driven past people who appear to be homeless. We often wonder how to help them in a needed and appreciated way. During my conversations with representatives from Shepherd’s Office and during my own presentation to those we asked for donations, I opened my eyes to the deeper needs of this group of people. It has given me a greater appreciation for their plight and a greater understanding of how to give then again in the future.” – Lisa Gepfer, PTA, Delaware

“Everybody deserves to be clean and warm” – Amber Samojedny, PT, Michigan

Fundraising for those in need:

Staff members also teamed up with their patients and communities to organize fundraisers. Our Pittsburg clinic participated in a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Walk, our Portage Park clinic did a charity walk for Thalassemia in honor of a patient, and our Work Comp team in Illinois participated in the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer 5K in honor of their co-worker who passed away from breast cancer earlier this year.

“By walking for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, we take steps toward a future of improved treatments and brighter possibilities. Every mile we walk and every dollar we raise helps support those living with Cystic Fibrosis and fuels the research that makes a difference.” – Suzanne Cavanaugh, RD, Pennsylvania

Take a look at our employees in action during PT Day of Service!

The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.