Blackbaud employees collect more than 6,500 gifts for annual Toys for Tots drive

Rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Blackbaud associates participating in the company’s recent annual Toys for Tots extravaganza.

Barbies, bat mobiles, bikes, and thousands of other toys covered the entire first floor of Blackbaud’s brand new Daniel Island corporate headquarters on Fairchild Street. For the past 19 years, Blackbaud has teamed up with Toys for Tots and the U.S. Marines to collect toys for underprivileged children in the Charleston area.

On Dec. 14, during Blackbaud’s annual holiday party, local NBC station Channel 2 was on hand to broadcast the festivities and revealed the company’s collection of whopping 6,584 toys! Blackbaud, the leading provider of software and related services for nonprofits, has a long history of helping charitable organizations.

“One of the philosophies of the company is the world would be a lot better if good takes over and our employees show that every day,” said Chief Financial Officer Tony Boor.

Sally Ehrenfried, the “chief instigator” of the toy drive, feels Toys for Tots epitomizes Blackbaud’s corporate dedication to work for the greater good.

“This event is a great display of our teamwork and the way we all come together and work as one,” she said.

Daniel Island resident and Blackbaud associate Michael Beville noted the Toys for Tots event showcases what Blackbaud means to the community and shows how the company supports the greater Charleston area.

“I have a lot of pride living and working here,” added Beville.

Many of the employees at the event expressed a deep commitment to Blackbaud’s corporate culture of philanthropic endeavors. Associate Courtney Claypoole has always worked with children and the Toys for Tots project is especially close to her heart.

“To be able to go back to our local community and see the money and the toys going directly to our community is a big thing for me,” explained Claypoole. “It has a massive positive impact on my life directly.”

“It’s just great to work for a company who likes to give back to those who are less fortunate,” added Claypoole’s coworker Liberty O’Neal. “We get to be contributors to the community. It’s really cool we get to play a role in that.”

The Daniel Island Rotary Club made it a true community affair. They stopped by the annual Blackbaud event with a $1,000 check made payable to Toys for Tots. All the toys and money donated will stay within the local area, making the holidays a bit brighter for many Lowcountry children. Toys for Tots area coordinator Staff Sergeant Robert Swift said, “Blackbaud makes a huge difference bringing in so many toys to feed back into the community…helping thousands of families.”

For the last 19 years, Blackbaud employees have donated over 92,000 gifts through the campaign and helped provide toys for about 31,000 area children. The Toys for Tots drive is just one of the many ways Blackbaud associates give back throughout the year.

“It means a lot to work for a company that gives back to the community,” added Leslie Isaksen, echoing a sentiment shared by many Blackbaud associates.