The Organizations We Support (and Why It Matters)

People ask what keeps me going after 12 years of running this business.

It’s not the revenue. It’s not the awards. It’s not the marketing wins—though those are satisfying when they come.

It’s the giving back.

Every year, we support local organizations with our time, our marketing expertise, and our money. Not because it looks good. Because it’s the part of the work that actually fills me up.

Let me tell you about some of the organizations we believe in.

Ottawa River Keeper

The Ottawa River is the reason this region exists. It’s been the lifeblood of communities here for thousands of years. And it needs protecting.

Ottawa River Keeper monitors the health of the river, advocates for better policies, and runs programs that keep our waters clean. They do the unglamorous work of testing water quality, tracking pollution sources, and pushing for change.

We’ve supported them because environmental work is slow and thankless and critically important. Someone has to pay attention to the river. Someone has to fight for it when developers and polluters and budget cuts threaten it.

We’re proud to be part of that someone.

La Maison Papillon

La Maison Papillon is a palliative care residence in Gatineau. They provide end-of-life care with dignity, comfort, and compassion. They support not just the person who is dying, but the family members who are losing someone.

There’s no marketing spin that makes this sound exciting. It’s heavy. It’s real. It’s one of the most important things a community can do for its members.

Death is the thing nobody wants to talk about. But everyone faces it eventually—either our own or someone we love. Organizations like La Maison Papillon make that passage gentler. That matters.

SOPAR

SOPAR—Société d’Aide aux Parents Séparés et leurs Enfants en Région—helps families navigate separation and divorce. They provide support, resources, and programs that help parents and children get through one of life’s most difficult transitions.

When families break apart, the kids often suffer most. They’re caught in the middle of adult problems. They need stability when everything feels unstable. SOPAR provides that anchor.

We’ve supported them because family matters. Because kids deserve support even when their parents’ relationship doesn’t work out. Because the work of helping people through hard times isn’t glamorous, but it’s essential.

Food Banks and Community Kitchens

We also support local food banks and community kitchens—organizations like Base Banque Alimentaire and Soupe Populaire de Hull.

Hunger in our community is real. People in Ottawa-Gatineau struggle to feed themselves and their families. Sometimes it’s a temporary crisis. Sometimes it’s an ongoing situation. Either way, nobody should have to choose between paying rent and eating.

These organizations don’t make headlines. They just quietly, consistently make sure people have food. That basic human need gets met because volunteers show up and donors contribute. We’re proud to be part of that.

The Birthday Party Story

One of my favorite things we’ve done isn’t for a big organization. It’s much smaller than that.

A few years ago, we learned about families in our community whose kids couldn’t have birthday parties. Not because the parents didn’t want to celebrate—because they couldn’t afford it. Cake, decorations, presents, friends coming over—all of it costs money that wasn’t there.

So we started funding birthday parties for kids who wouldn’t otherwise have them.

I can’t fully explain why this matters so much to me. Maybe because birthdays meant so much when I was a kid. Maybe because the joy on a child’s face when they get a real party is pure and uncomplicated. Maybe because it’s so small and specific and doable.

Big systemic problems can feel overwhelming. A birthday party is something we can actually give.

Why this isn’t separate from business

I want to be clear about something. This isn’t charity that we do on the side. It’s not a line item we fund when there’s extra budget.

Giving back is part of how we run this business.

When the work gets hard—when clients are demanding, when projects are stressful, when the economy is uncertain—remembering why we’re doing this keeps me going. It’s not just about building a successful agency. It’s about building something that contributes.

The meaning comes from the giving, not from the growth.

There’s a business case for this, if you want one. Companies with purpose retain employees better. Clients who share your values become long-term partners. Caring about something beyond profit attracts people who care too.

But honestly? I didn’t start giving back for the business benefits. I started because it felt right. The business benefits followed.

The ripple effect

Here’s what I’ve learned about community contribution over the years:

It comes back around, but not in direct ways.

You support an organization, and someone there remembers. Three years later, they mention your name to a friend who needs marketing help. That wasn’t why you gave, but that’s how networks work.

You show up at community events, and people see you. They associate your business with caring about the same things they care about. Clients hire you not just for your skills, but because they want to work with someone whose values match theirs.

You invest in the community, and the community gets stronger. Stronger communities have more successful businesses. Rising tides lift all boats.

None of this is calculable. You can’t put it in a spreadsheet. But it’s real.

What I’d tell other business owners

If you’re running a business and you’re not giving back yet, start small.

Pick one organization. Give them money or time or skills—whatever you have more of. Don’t overthink it. Don’t turn it into a big marketing initiative. Just contribute.

See how it feels.

My guess is it will feel like the most meaningful part of your work. The stuff that reminds you why you’re doing any of this. The stuff that makes the hard parts worthwhile.

And if you’re already giving back—thank you. The community is stronger because of you.

The hardest work

Someone once asked me what the hardest part of building this business has been.

The usual answers came to mind: financial stress, difficult clients, team challenges, the loneliness of leadership.

But the real answer is something different.

The hardest work wasn’t building the business. It was building myself into someone who could see what actually matters.

Revenue matters. Growth matters. Results matter.

But they’re not what gets me out of bed after 12 years.

What gets me out of bed is knowing we’re building something that contributes. Something that helps clients grow, that treats team members well, and that gives back to the community that supports us.

That’s the work that matters.

POP INC Digital supports Ottawa River Keeper, La Maison Papillon, SOPAR, local food banks, and various community initiatives. If you know of an organization doing important work in Ottawa-Gatineau that we should know about, we’d love to hear from you.