KSM’s 13th Annual Community Day: Growing Our Impact Together

Summary: KSM’s 13th annual Community Day brought together more than 600 employees nationwide, our largest effort yet, to serve local communities across Indianapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, Fort Wayne, Evansville, and beyond.

On Friday, Nov. 21, KSM celebrated its 13th annual Community Day, and this year marked our largest and most wide-reaching event yet, with more than 600 KSMers around the U.S. volunteering across 129 sites. From stocking food pantries to assembling care packages, organizing donation drives, and supporting local nonprofits, each project represented our shared values.

KSM’s community engagement philosophy is rooted in the belief that strong communities are the foundation for shared success, and that as we grow, so does our responsibility to give back in meaningful ways. Community Day is more than a long-standing firm tradition; it reflects our values in action and the collective impact we can make when we come together with purpose.

“Giving back remains a defining part of who we are at KSM, and that commitment only grows stronger as we continue to grow as a firm,” said Tim Cook, KSM’s CEO and president. “Each year, Community Day highlights the heart of our organization, our people, and the meaningful impact we can make when we come together. It was inspiring to see the way KSMers across the country showed up to serve their communities, and I’m proud of the difference we continue to make together.”

A Nationwide Effort Rooted in Service

What began in 2009 as a day of service in Indianapolis has grown alongside our firm, expanding into new regions and deepening our impact each year. In 2025, Community Day reached more communities than ever before.

Indianapolis:

More than 350 team members volunteered across 18 service projects in central Indiana, including:

• Brooke’s Place: Volunteers signed and stuffed holiday cards, set up the Holiday Store, and packed holiday treat bags for caregivers.
• Early Learning Indiana: Participants freshened up classroom spaces, organized storage areas, and spent time reading and playing with children.
• Horizon House: KSMers sorted items in the donation room, assisted clients who needed clothing and shoes, helped with landscaping and window washing, and made sandwiches for neighbors.
• Jameson Camp: Volunteers worked outdoors clearing brush and plants. They also deep-cleaned and organized various campus spaces, including the Jameson Center and camper cabins.
• Joy’s House: Team members engaged with guests through games, exercise, and conversation, and tackled cleaning and organizing tasks.
• MLK Center: The group organized and cleaned classrooms, libraries, and vans, and painted several basement areas.
• Second Helpings: Team members chopped produce, made sandwiches, and packed meals for distribution.

Chicago:

For the first time, our new Chicago office established dedicated service sites in Chicagoland, broadening KSM’s footprint and strengthening our commitment to the region. Service projects included:

• Feed My Starving Children: Participants packed meals for global distribution.
• Nourishing Hope: Team members distributed food, restocked shelves, and unloaded deliveries in one location and sorted donations in another warehouse location.

Cincinnati:

With continued growth in the Cincinnati metro, KSMers expanded their community impact, supporting both longstanding partner organizations and several new community partners, including:

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati: Volunteers completed a variety of improvement projects throughout the Club.
• Cincinnati Animal CARE: Team members walked dogs and assisted with general animal care.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore: KSMers sorted and priced donations, assembled items, and handled cleaning tasks.
• Matthew 25: Ministries: Participants sorted donated items to support the organization’s relief efforts.
• Vincent de Paul: The team organized and sorted coats for the annual coat drive.
• Stepping Stones: KSMers supported a rotating schedule of recreation activities, socialized with clients, handed out supplies, and cleaned activity areas.
• Tikkun Farm: The group spread mulch, harvested crops, and cleaned barn areas.

New York City:

Members of our New York office further expanded their presence and connection to community needs across the city.

• Project Renewal: One group packed Thanksgiving meals at City Beet Kitchens, Project Renewal’s social-purpose catering company. Another group decorated the Fort Washington shelter and spent time engaging with clients and staff. Other KSMers helped decorate the Third Street shelter and connected with clients and staff during their visit.

Evansville, IN:

Our small but mighty team in Evansville continued their service, this year supporting area youth programs.

• Boys & Girls Club of Evansville: Volunteers helped to beautify the club by moving and reinstalling several murals.  

Fort Wayne, IN:

KSMers from the Fort Wayne office split into two groups this year, continuing their service with SCAN and adding a service opportunity with Erin’s House, which supports grieving children and their families.

• Erin’s House: Team members set up for upcoming holiday parties, decorated trees, and stuffed stockings for clients.
• SCAN (Stop Child Abuse and Neglect): KSMers organized and wrapped donated gifts, prepared for the Winter Drive, decorated for the holidays, and cleaned client spaces.

Other Locations:

Remote employees participated in projects within their communities across the U.S. Projects included beach cleanup, organizing and cleaning at animal shelters, making meals at soup kitchens, and packing food boxes at local community centers.

Across all locations, KSMers demonstrated the same spirit of compassion, teamwork, and service that has defined Community Day for more than a decade.

Community Day Recap