Operation Give Back

COVID-19 has left many communities shattered; businesses on the brink of closure, some already completely shut down, and unemployment rates reaching double digits in many states. To help our communities, Availity launched Operation Give Back, which gave associates $50 gift cards through the Achievers platform to support local businesses in their communities.

After receiving an outpouring of positive feedback, Availity leadership extended the campaign by launching Operation Give Back 2.0. Eleven teams of Availity associates were given a total of $20,000 to purchase goods from small businesses in their communities.

The results were remarkable and beyond our expectations. Associates purchased gift cards, foods, treats, and supplies from more than 40 businesses in their communities, and donated to more than 30 charities, schools, and frontline organizations.

Below is an overview of the businesses and charities our associates chose to give back to during the campaign.

Team Pride & Trust

• Catered food from Riverfront Café to The Towers of Jacksonville, a housing complex for low and fixed-income seniors.
• Purchased goods from The Happy Grilled Cheese, Good Dough, MiniBar Donuts, Bold Bean Coffee, Sara’s Bakery Café, and Jax Bread Co. and delivered it to Baptist Medical Center.
• Bought gift cards from School Aids, MiniBar Donuts, Mayday Ice Cream, Sippers Coffee Shop, and Authentic Touch Massage Therapy and delivered them to Twin Lakes Elementary School.
• The team raised an additional $505 that went towards a variety of gift cards.

Team Diversity

• Divided up their contribution between Feeding Northeast Florida, Feeding America, Blessings in a Backpack, Yellow House, and the Jacksonville Humane Society.

Team Connect

• Purchased homemade jams, jellies, and pickles from a local business in Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Spring Hill, Tennessee and donated them to the Hubbard House and Farm Share in Jacksonville, Gleaners Food Bank and Wheeler Mission in Indianapolis, and a mission in Tennessee that feeds and houses the homeless.
• The team raised an additional $504 that went towards purchasing the jams, jellies, and pickles. 

Team Empower

• Worked with a local artist to paint a mural for the entrance to a homeless shelter and provided food from a local restaurant for the shelter.

• Donated books and other items the shelter requested.

Team Security

• Purchased gift cards from Motion Sweets, Sun Deli, Hangar Bay, and Joseph’s Pizza and donated them to local charities and the Jacksonville Transit Authority.

Team Frontline

• Ordered pizza from Crispy’s Pizza and Mega’s Pizzeria and delivered the food to UF Health and Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Purchased food/gift cards from Stacey and Rick’s Soul Food and delivered it to the Indianapolis VA Hospital emergency room and the Indianapolis Metro Police Department.
• Purchased sweets from Just Cookies and delivered them to Riley Children’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital and Eskenazi Hospital Emergency Room.
• Purchased school supplies and donated items to Teachers Treasure Chest.

Team Availity Life

• Purchased pet supplies from two local pet supply stores and donated items to First Coast No More Homeless Pets.
• Purchased food from a local restaurant to supply to the Hubbard House.

Team Strategy

• Donated t-shirts from a local t-shirt production company to No Questions Asked Food Pantry. T-shirts were sold to profit their mission.
• Purchased produce from a local farmer and donated to a local market on Indy’s Eastside.

.

Team Inclusion

• Contributed to the purchase of pet supplies for Camp Bow Wow in Indianapolis.
• Purchased lunch from The Trap and delivered to a local fire station in Indianapolis.
• Purchased popcorn snack bags from Delectables by Desha and shared them with the staff at Nora Elementary.
• Collected disinfectant wipes and food pantry items to donate to Nora Elementary.
• Ordered t-shirts from The Nook. Profits of t-shirt sales supported Nora Elementary.

Team Achievers

• Purchased a gift card from The Bread and Board to donate to workers at the Jacksonville Zoo.
• Purchased gift cards from local restaurants to give to residents at the Gabriel House of Care, employees at Ascension Health, and The Broad Ripple Village Association.
• Purchased more than $10,000 in goods and services from local businesses such as Soul Food Bistro, Delicomb, Ichiban, Eagle’s Nest, King’s Garden, Pet Supplies Plus, North Beach Fish Camp, Clean Juice, Conch House, and more.

Team Service

• Donated their funds and raised extra money to benefit The Sulzbacher Center to help empower homeless and at-risk women, children, and men through health, housing, and income services.