Here at DISTek, giving back to the communities in which we live and work by making a positive impact is not just a one-time effort, but a core value that drives us year-round. Over the past year, we’ve focused on creating meaningful change through various initiatives, from supporting local charities to empowering employees to volunteer and make a difference. These efforts reflect our commitment to social responsibility and is something we are very passionate about. In this blog, we’d like to reflect on a few of the ways we’ve given back over the past year and how we’re continuously working to build community and achieve a legacy of shared success.
Robotics
DISTek employee-owners have long been passionate about supporting FIRST Robotics and volunteering both time and resources to help grow the next generation of engineers. In 2024, DISTek was able to financially support 9 different FIRST Robotics teams ranging from FIRST Lego League at the elementary level to FIRST Tech challenge at a high school level. In addition, at least 6 DISTek employee-owners volunteered their time in various capacities, including parent volunteer, team mentor, team coach, and competition judge.
United Way School Supply Drive
This summer, our Fargo, North Dakota, crew led the charge and partnered with their local United Way for their Annual School Supply Drive. The goal was to provide 6000 backpacks to kids in the Fargo community, so they could arrive prepared and confident on their first day of school. All DISTekians had the opportunity to purchase various school supplies to contribute to the effort and our own Katherine Harris joined the packing event to help fill the backpacks.
Hardware Hangout
Throughout the year, DISTek jointly sponsored 4 Hardware Hangout events, which are held quarterly in the greater Des Moines, Iowa, area. The group’s mission is to provide a community for industry professionals, specifically those in software and technical engineering, to share knowledge and experience to promote continuous learning, build networks, and enhance personal growth. Our own Kristyn Rodriguez is instrumental in volunteering her time to assist in organizing and coordinating these events. In addition, DISTek has supplied various speakers and presenters throughout the year.
Habitat for Humanity Build
In July, a team of employee-owners represented our local Iowa chapter of Women Lead Change and teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to install siding on a local house build. It was hot, but there was a lot of smiles and laughs and there was something extremely special to be said about working alongside the future homeowner and hearing exactly what this new home means to her and her daughter. See the DISTek team in action here!
Adopt-A-Family
As we have done for the last 15+ years, DISTek once again worked collaboratively with Waterloo, Iowa, school counselors to pair with local families that needed a little extra assistance this holiday season. DISTek employee-owners donated resources to fill a list of both needs and wants for two local families and then volunteered time to wrap and deliver all the gifts.
As we reflect on the past year, we’re proud of the positive impact we’ve made through our giving-back initiatives. From community support to employee-owner involvement, these efforts, while certainly not a comprehensive list, are a testament to our dedication to social responsibility. As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue expanding our efforts and finding new ways to contribute to the well-being of our communities and the people around us. Together, we can create lasting positive impacts and honor the key elements of our why statement.
Our Why: Build community, grow leaders, and achieve a legacy of shared success
