Vertrue Good Works

Whether it’s an annual Toys for Tots or Food Bank drive, a one-time relief effort in response to a natural disaster, or a chance to provide work experience to young adults who might not otherwise have such an opportunity, Vertrue takes community involvement very seriously.

In addition to working with charities and helping other organizations raise funds and supplies during their annual drives, Vertrue Incorporated and our employees are quick to step up in times of need.

A good indication of this willingness to help the community at large was our employees' response to the tragic circumstances that resulted after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005. After seeing televised reports of the devastation of New Orleans and the loss of life and property throughout the region, Vertrue employees asked the company to establish a formal program through which they could offer tangible support to hurricane victims.

Vertrue sponsored an employee raffle in each of its various locations — Stamford, CT; Omaha, NE; Houston, TX — as well as in each of its subsidiaries, including Coverdell & Company Inc., Best Benefits and Bargain Network, Inc. For every $5 an employee donated, he or she received a raffle ticket for a drawing that offered two prizes, a $1,500 American Express gift cheque and a $500 American Express gift cheque. These prizes, provided by Vertrue, were awarded to two employees in each location and each subsidiary.

Vertrue employees and workers in Vertrue subsidiaries responded to this Hurricane Katrina relief effort with enthusiasm and compassion. Raffle leaders were chosen in each location and subsidiary to organize the efforts and drive donations. By the time the raffle was held, Vertrue employees had donated $39,437 — and because Vertrue promised to match all donations, Americares received a check from Vertrue in the amount of $78,874.

Similarly, when an earthquake in the Indian Ocean created a tsunami that devastated Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other parts of southeast Asia, Vertrue employees stepped up to organize a raffle, solicit employee donations and deliver charitable contributions to the Americares tsunami relief efforts.

At Vertrue, we're proud of our employees' desire to lend a hand to needy people and communities whenever disaster strikes. While we hope no one will ever face such challenging circumstances again, Vertrue employees will be ready to chip in whenever and wherever needed.