Fingerpaint Gets Festive With #HoHoToga2016

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eight local charities got a holiday visit from Fingerpaint during their “philanthropy extravaganza,” #HoHoToga2016, Thursday. The marketing agency and all 150 of its employees engaged in a mission to fulfill wish lists for their various year-round community partners throughout the Capital Region, including: CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services, Franklin Community Center, The Giving Circle/Jake’s Help from Heaven, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, Saratoga Bridges, Saratoga Senior Center, Shelters of Saratoga and Special Olympics of New York. On December 8, all 150 Fingerpaint employees from the agency’s offices in Scottsdale, Arizona; Conshohocken, Pennsylvania; and Saratoga Springs hit the streets of Saratoga Springs for the collective philanthropic effort. Ten teams were sent out on a surprise mission to purchase various items for local nonprofits, including holiday gifts, clothing, food, pet supplies, art supplies and more. Right before they were dispatched, each team was given a budget, a shopping list and instructions on where to shop and where to drop off the items when they were done. The company donated a combination of funds in lieu of client gifts and contributions from employees who usually pitch in toward community efforts during the holidays. “This is our first time ever getting all of our employees together in the same place for such a big community effort,” said Bo Goliber, who oversees community relations and philanthropy for Fingerpaint. “We’ve built so many great partnerships with all of these nonprofits. We thought it would be an impactful way for us to show our gratitude for being together because we all want to make a difference.” Fingerpaint has grown 123 percent in just the past three years, and Founder Ed Mitzen has made philanthropy a core value since the beginning. He says watching his entire team rally together for others is the perfect way to give thanks for the company’s success, and doing it this time of year in such a fun way makes all the hard work pay off. “We’ve been incredibly fortunate,” said Mitzen. “Our staff works so hard to make this company great, and coming together like this just brings it all full circle.” #HoHoToga2016 was part of two full days of team-building for Fingerpaint, including renting out a movie theater at Bow Tie Cinemas, team dinners at 15 different local restaurants, and a company holiday party on December 9 at Saratoga National Golf Club. In all, the company supported at least 25 local restaurants and businesses during the gathering.