Random Acts of Kindness: Celebrating Community on Founder’s Day

Each December, SDK pauses to reflect on where we came from and what continues to guide us forward. This year’s Founder’s Day marked 35 years since our firm was founded on a simple but powerful principle: that success means more when it’s shared with the community around us. To honor that legacy, our team once again turned intention into action through a firmwide volunteer event centered on random acts of kindness.

Earlier this month, SDK employees were divided into teams and given a budget with the challenge to use those resources to enrich our community in a meaningful way. How each team chose to do that was entirely up to them, and the creativity, thoughtfulness, and heart behind the efforts were inspiring.

Across the Twin Cities, SDK teams looked for ways to meet people where they are and support organizations doing important work every day. Some teams purchased much-needed supplies and donated them to local pet rescues, helping care for animals waiting for their forever homes. Others arranged for pizzas to be delivered to an emergency shelter, offering not just a warm meal but a moment of comfort and care.

Several teams focused their efforts on families and children. Items were purchased and delivered to the Ronald McDonald House to support families staying close to loved ones receiving medical care. Another team assembled and delivered gift baskets to the Minnesota Somali Community Center, recognizing the importance of connection, dignity, and community support.

One group spent their day in the Native Corridor at Pow Wow Grounds Coffee Shop, treating everyone on-site to a beverage of their choice. It was a simple gesture with a big impact; supporting a Native-owned business while creating a welcoming, joyful moment for community members gathered there.

While the acts themselves varied, the spirit behind them was the same. Each team took time to consider how their budget could be used most thoughtfully and how small actions, when done with intention, can make a real difference.

Volunteerism has been woven into SDK’s culture since the beginning. Every year, as part of our Founder’s Day recognition, we intentionally build in a service component as a reminder that our work extends beyond financial statements and tax filings. For 35 years, community service has remained a cornerstone of who we are, something we practice, not just talk about.

This year’s random acts of kindness served as a powerful reminder that impact doesn’t always require grand gestures. Sometimes it looks like a cup of coffee, a warm meal, a box of supplies, or a basket thoughtfully assembled. Collectively, those moments add up to something bigger: stronger communities and deeper connections.

As we close out the year, we’re proud of the ways our team continues to live out SDK’s founding values. Giving back isn’t just a once-a-year activity, it’s part of how we show up, together, for the communities we serve.