PROP Business Partners Step up to the Plate
Community is at the heart of what PROP Food does. PROP wouldn’t be what it is today without neighbors helping their neighbors, and some of those neighbors who help PROP are local business partners. PROP has several partnerships with local businesses that have greatly supported PROP’s mission of combating food insecurity.
A long-standing partnership of PROP’s is with the Zinpro Corporation, having partnered with them in 2012. Zinpro is a global agriculture company dedicated to the health and wellbeing of animals and people. The partnership began with their “Blue Jeans Benefit,” in which employees of Zinpro could purchase passes to wear blue jeans to work and all the proceeds went to PROP. “At Zinpro, one of our core values is Serving Generously, and our longstanding partnership with PROP is one example of how we try to live our values,” Global Corporate Communications Leader Lea Curtes-Swenson said.
PROP also has a partnership with The Bernard Group, a visual merchandising and marketing company. The partnership began in 2018, beginning with hosting a peanut butter drive for the food shelf. Since then, The Bernard Group has grown to be PROP’s largest corporate donor. “The Bernard Group supports multiple nonprofit organizations that focus on meeting the needs of those who are most vulnerable in our community, particularly children, teens and women,” Director of Corporate Social Responsibility Liesl Beck explained.
SCHEELS, a local retailer, is another one of PROP’s strong partnerships, providing the nonprofit with consistent support since 2020 and emphasizing the importance of community involvement. “As an employee-owned company we value the communities that we are in and make it a priority to be an active member of each community through outreach and volunteerism,” Marketing Leader Lauren Andrist said. “We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our community so we want to make sure we are doing our part.”
Optum’s partnership with PROP began more recently in 2023, but has already made a huge impact. Optum is a healthcare company that provides various direct services. The partnership began when Optum started hosting food packing events at their campus in Eden Prairie. “At Optum, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life,” Senior Data Analyst Laura Erchul shared. “We are committed to advancing health equity, which includes food security.”
These unique partnerships all support PROP in different ways, but they all make a huge difference in the fight against food insecurity.
Zinpro’s involvement has grown to involve many efforts, specifically PROP’s Summer Food For Kids and Empty Bowls programs through their corporate giving programs. Furthermore, through the efforts of Zinpro’s foundation, Anderson Foundation, the company has sponsored several food and personal care item drives alongside holiday giving. All these methods of giving have made an immediate impact at PROP.
The Bernard Group’s staple is their Charity Golf Open, in which PROP is one of three beneficiaries to receive 100% of all the funds raised. The Bernard Group has hosted a charity fashion show in the past as well, illustrating the creative ways in which local businesses support PROP.
While providing support year-round, SCHEELS primarily supports two campaigns of PROP’s: Keeping Families in their Homes for the Holidays and Summer Food For Kids. SCHEELS did a donation match of $25,000 for the most recent Keeping Families campaign, then donated to cover one month of food for Summer Food for Kids. SCHEELS is representative of how major support furthers PROP’s mission.
Optum’s recent partnership has had an amazing start. In 2023, the company packed 400 personal care kits which included shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrushes, and shaving supplies. In 2024, they expanded, packing 400 personal care kits and 1,250 snack kits, alongside hosting a peanut butter donation drive that resulted in 135 jars of peanut butter collected. Optum also brought in 200 burrito bowl kits for a spring 2024 project. This partnership will only continue to grow over time.
These partnerships demonstrate how important it is for neighbors to help their neighbors. Each of these companies have supported PROP and its mission in huge ways, creating a greater sense of community while doing so.
“We care about making a positive impact in the world — both through our products and services as well as the actions we take in caring for our communities. By supporting PROP in our hometown, we hope to inspire others to do the same,” Lea said, sharing a sentiment that all of PROP’s business partners uphold.