The Power of 1%: Our Annual Commitment to Community

Here at Odyssey, giving back has never been a one-size-fits-all effort – especially during the holiday season. We believe generosity is most meaningful when it’s personal. That’s why each year we empower our team to help guide how we give.

Through this tradition, every Odyssey team member selects one or two charitable organizations they care deeply about, and we donate 1% of our total gross revenue to support those causes on their behalf. It’s our way of turning individual passions into collective impact.

The idea was originally inspired by a 2019 holiday giving column by The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof, who wrote about how his family comes together each year to choose the organizations they support. We love the spirit of that approach and expanded it to include our entire team.

Our focus isn’t on recognition of what we’re doing. We want it to be on the remarkable organizations doing important work in our communities and beyond. By sharing the causes our team has chosen, we hope to spotlight their missions and maybe even spark new ideas for how others can approach giving in their own lives or organizations. 

Here are the organizations our team chose to support in 2025: 

George Pocock Rowing Foundation 

The George Pocock Rowing Foundation is dedicated to opening the doors of rowing to younger people, especially those from underrepresented communities Through hands-on programs and community partnerships, the foundation creates meaningful opportunities for adolescents to discover the sport, build confidence, and develop lifelong skills on and off the water. 

“A few years ago I joined my city’s community rowing program where we share a boathouse with the public high school. I’ve been able to see how important and transformative it is to some of these kids, and it’s also a huge scholarship opportunity, particularly for young women. Unfortunately rowing is an expensive and often homogenous and inaccessible sport. I chose the George Pocock Rowing Foundation as one of my charities this year because their mission is to give kids who never would have had the chance to try rowing the opportunity.” – Kirby Prigioni, Marketing Analyst

Love One International

Love One exists to transform the lives of children and families in Uganda through life-saving medical care, family preservation, and sharing the love of Jesus. 

“When someone needs emergency medical treatment in the U.S., we can pick up the phone and dial 9-1-1, go to the nearest E.R. or even hop on a video call with your doctor. But that isn’t the case all over the world. In remote areas of Uganda, medical treatment isn’t readily available like it is here. When children in these villages become critically ill because of malnourishment or infections like malaria or HIV, their parents are left feeling hopeless. This is where Love One steps in. 

As an ambassador for Love One, I’ve gotten to see the work they do and experience the passion their team has. It’s truly inspiring. No child should ever die from treatable conditions. That’s why I continue to choose this charity each year.” – Stephanie Irvin, Digital Content Manager

Save All Dogs Rescue

Save All Dogs Rescue offers a safe haven for unwanted, homeless, and abandoned dogs and cats from kill shelters that are in need of new loving forever homes. 

“Save All Dogs Rescue in Manchester, CT is my charity of choice. I started volunteering there in 2021 and have seen first-hand the sheer volume of animals that they rescue! They regularly take trips to kill shelters down south (where unaltered animals are much more common and therefore they have an unprecedented number of unwanted/abandoned animals) and transport them back to CT where they get regular vet care, proper nutrition, exercise, socialization, etc. 

Watching the animals learn to trust, feel love for the first time, and find homes that spoil them is such a moving experience. These dogs and cats offer companionship, unwavering love, entertainment, and so much more to the hundreds of families who adopt. 

In the immortal words of Bob Barker, “help control the pet population, have your pet spayed or neutered!” – Samantha Schneider, Actuarial Consultant

No Kid Hungry

No Kid Hungry works to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. This year we had 3 of our team choose this organization to support. 

“I chose No Kid Hungry as my organization because I really like their approach to fighting child hunger, especially the way that they provide grants which help schools offer free meals for their students.  They also work with educators and lawmakers in order to generate the funding necessary for schools to offer breakfast so that no kid has to go through the school day hungry.” – Luke Matchett, Actuarial Consultant

“While there are so many things in life to worry about, finding the next meal for your child shouldn’t be one of them. By choosing No Kid Hungry, I am trying to help guarantee that every child receives the nourishment they need to flourish in other aspects of life.” – Caleb White, Actuarial Consultant

“No Kid Hungry is dedicated to eradicating childhood hunger. They employ various strategies to achieve this, such as supporting school breakfast programs and summer meal initiatives, advocating for legislative improvements in existing programs, and educating individuals on budget-friendly shopping techniques. 

I chose this organization because I believe the work they are doing is so important, particularly in times like these when hardship is widespread. It’s good to know that while kids can’t help their situation, efforts are being made to ensure they are fed.” – Kirby Prigioni, Marketing Analyst

Bolton Center School PTA 

The Bolton Center School PTA is a volunteer organization that enriches the school community in Bolton, Connecticut and expands opportunities for every child. Currently, the PTA is fundraising for the BCS boundless Playground which is a major upgrade to the school’s play space designed to be fully accessible and inclusive for all children. 

“When I figure out which charities to donate to, I try to go towards those where the target group gets the highest share of the funds possible. In the case of the Bolton School Boundless Playground, the charity is overseen by the town’s volunteer PTA so there is very little overhead. I also like the fact that there is a specific goal in mind, like in this case, where they plan to update the playground in a way that every child can use it. “ — Francis Fraine, Director of Operations & Actuarial Consultant

Feed My Starving Children 

Feed my Starving Children, is a long-standing nonprofit committed to ending childhood hunger both in the United States and around the world. With the help of donors and partners, the organization provides millions of children and families with nourishing food, essentials like hygiene and household items, school supplies, clean water access, and community support programs that help build brighter, more secure futures. 

“In the developing world there are still millions of children who die from preventable causes. It is estimated that half of these preventable deaths are related to hunger and malnutrition. Feed My Starving Children provides fully prepared (just add water) meals to children around the world. Using volunteers to pack the meals, they can deliver meals around the world for an average cost generally less than $0.30 per meal.” — Kurtis Thompson, Consulting Actuary

Note in the Pocket 

Note in my Pocket is a local North Carolina nonprofit that combats clothing insecurity by providing high-quality, seasonally appropriate clothing to homeless and impoverished children and families with dignity and love. 

It began as one teacher’s effort to ensure her students had warm coats and has grown into a community-wide organization serving thousands. 

“Note in the Pocket is a local organization that helps children with clothing insecurity that have been affected by poverty or homelessness. I chose this organization because it’s local to me and I believe in the work this organization does because it helps the kids feel comfortable and confident at school.” — Andrew Taggart, Consulting Actuary  

Thank You For Making This All Possible

Each year, we’re grateful for the opportunity to support organizations doing meaningful work in their communities and beyond. These contributions are only possible because of our incredible team and the trust our clients place in us. Together, we’re able to turn shared values into action and help create impact beyond our own walls. By sharing these stories, we hope to shine a light on the incredible work these organizations are doing and inspire others to learn more or get involved.