Photo Finish: PMPs rally for community causes

In March, Thomas Pest Services launched a community fundraising campaign for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. The Schenectady, N.Y.-based company matched $1,500 in donations from customers and partners for a total contribution of $3,000 to Jake’s Help From Heaven, a local non-profit supporting individuals with complex medical needs. Then, in September, co-founders Bill Clark and Sarah Thomas-Clark partnered with local businesses to support the second annual Backpack Giveaway, providing 100 stocked backpacks for local students and an additional 20 for local school districts to ensure all students were prepared for the academic year. 

As part of an ongoing commitment to U.S. Veterans, employees of Northfield, Ill.-based Rose Pest Solutions and its sister company, Franklin Pest Solutions, donated hundreds of clothing items this winter. The donations benefited Veterans served by the Hines VA Medical Center in Hines, Ill. Pictured from left are Dr. Stan Cope, technical director; Tom Snyder, Louisville branch manager; Dave Sloop, Michigan City branch manager; and Jorge Guerrero, safety coordinator. 

The North Carolina and South Carolina Professional Women in Pest Management (PWIPM) chapters hosted the inaugural “Melodies that Matter: Pest Control Pop Star Edition FUNdraiser.” Held during the 2025 Carolinas/Mid-Atlantic Summer Conference in Savannah, Ga., in August, the event raised $6,937.65 in support of Safe House Project, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending child trafficking. The evening combined karaoke and philanthropy, allowing participants to donate for the chance to sing — or pay a fee to avoid taking the stage. Pictured from left are planning committee members Suzanne VanDerveer, Melanie Matthews, Maria Miller (North Carolina chair), Julie Tesh-Clark and Donna Gross (South Carolina chair). The committee also included Mary Elizabeth Fairfax and Laura Gergle.

Plaistow, N.H.-based Pest-End hosted its annual end-of-season event in October, drawing inspiration from the National Pest Management Association’s Academy format. Six color-coded teams competed in spirited challenges, including a community-focused task: donating items to local food pantries. While the initial goal was 150 items, the team’s generosity resulted in more than 1,500 items donated to help neighbors in need.