A big part of us is being a big part of the community.
Orion is committed to community. There is a trust and engagement that promotes Orion’s social responsibility and common sense efforts to give back in the neighborhoods where we serve. The Orion Gives Back Program supports many local non-profits, and encourages Orion employees to volunteer and serve their community.
Check out our Orion Gives Back partners
Memphis Teacher Residency (MTR) is working to bridge the gap in educational inequality along economic and racial lines. MTR’s model of training emphasizes the spiritual, social and instructional needs of teachers in order to help them offer educational opportunities to the children that they teach.
Kiwanis Memphis is a service organization dedicated to helping the children of our community. Kiwanis Club establishes meaningful partnerships to provide service and support in the community primarily focusing on the education opportunities of young people.
Operation Christmas Basket
Soulfull Memphis Operation Christmas Basket is a community event organized for the purpose of sharing the joy of the holiday season with thousands of seniors and families in need through the gift of a holiday food basket.
More than a century ago, musicians of all races and backgrounds began pouring into Memphis, and together created a sound that changed the cultural complexion of the world forever. Today, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame honors many of the greatest musicians of all time and continues to educate locals and tourists of this city’s musical legacy and Memphis music icons.
The Edge Motor Museum is Memphis’s only car museum and is focused on the preservation of cars with historical and cultural significance. The museum educates visitors about the cars and the moment in history they reflect.
Methodist Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center
Memphis has one of the largest populations of adult sickle cell disease patients in the country. For these patients, daily life is interrupted by pain that can last weeks. The Methodist Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center provides innovative, comprehensive care and develops new treatments through on-site research, helping improve the health and quality of life for sickle cell disease patience across the Mid-South.
Memphis Youth Athletics
Memphis Youth Athletics encourages students to take their first steps toward creating healthy habits and an active lifestyle.
Tennessee Builders Education Foundation
Tennessee Builders Education Foundation (TBEF) was founded to provide residential construction skills training to Shelby County and area high school students. TBEF was formed to address the severe shortage of skilled workers and currently works with 10 partner schools over 300 students across three counties.
Volunteer Odyssey is a volunteer center based in and built for Memphis. They are a one-stop shop for meaningful volunteer opportunities connecting volunteers to their ideal volunteer experiences in the Memphis area based on their interests, skills, or neighborhood.
Memphis has the highest senior food insecurity rate in the nation— over 15% of seniors in our community lack access to adequate nutrition. MIFA Meals on Wheels provides hot lunches more than 500,000 meals to 3,000 seniors each year.
Memphis Oral School for the Deaf
Memphis Oral School for the Deaf empowers deaf children to listen, learn, and talk. MSOD ensures hearing impaired children have the unique resources readily available to provide a solid educational foundation and an equal opportunity to succeed.
The Junior League of Memphis is committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. This year, JLM will serve over 30,000 volunteer hours in the Memphis community as they celebrate 100 years of volunteerism in the Memphis community.
For over 35 years, Youth Villages has worked to radically improve the lives of children. Helping families provide the support and structure that all children need. Because every child should have the opportunity to reach for their dreams.
ALS Association Tennessee Chapter
The ALS Association works to discover treatments and a cure for ALS, and to serve, advocate for, and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives to the fullest. The Tennessee Chapter supports people living with ALS and their loved ones through services and education.
Having adequate winter clothing can be the difference in a child coming to school or not. Operation Warm Hearts supports Shelby County Schools students in need this winter by providing new coats and outerwear.
Music Export Memphis creates opportunities for Memphis musicians to showcase their music outside the city, driving tourism, talent attraction and economic development. This organization gives local artists a platform to grow their careers and build on the city’s rich musical legacy.
MICR supports the next generation of Memphians and provides youth development programming through world-class rugby coaching and competition. They are committed to supporting families and creating new opportunities in our community.
Methodist Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center
Memphis has one of the largest populations of adult sickle cell disease patients in the country. For these patients, daily life is interrupted by pain that can last weeks. The Methodist Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center provides innovative, comprehensive care and develops new treatments through on-site research, helping improve the health and quality of life for sickle cell disease patients across the Mid-South.
Now in its 5th year, the Ed Murphey Classic brings elite athletes to Memphis for a world-class event, empowering Memphis youth through the opportunities and healthy lifestyle choices track and field provides.
Not only is Methodist a world-class healthcare provider, their efforts through the Community Collective for Reading Literacy have helped thousands of local students reach a 3rd grade reading level, a direct indicator of long-term academic attainment, professional success, health literacy, and improved health outcomes.
Responsibility. Initiative. Solutions. Empowerment. The RISE Foundation seeks to improve the community and transform the well-being of low income working people by providing financial literacy tools and incentives to help families build assets and make better financial choices.
SRVS is the largest provider of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in West Tennessee, supporting nearly 2,000 people. SRVS exists to provide the services that people with disabilities need to live meaningful lives as members of their communities.
For over 170 years, Porter-Leath has been the primary resource for Memphis’ at-risk children and families. By focusing on the essential building blocks of healthy development, Porter-Leath not only offers access to critical community resources, but also a sense of hope. Their work helps build stronger children, stronger families and a stronger Memphis.
Girl Scouts Heart of the South
Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. Orion is proud to support Girl Scouts locally through Girl Scouts Heart of the South, serving more than 6,000 girls in the Mid-South annually with the help of nearly 2,000 volunteers.
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
Orion is proud to support to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Le Bon Appetit, bringing together award-winning chefs from Memphis and beyond to raise money for one of our region’s most important assets. The exceptional care Le Bonheur provides for our community makes the Mid-South a better place for all families.
Pay It Forward Mid-South Campaign
Orion is proud to support the Community Foundation’s Pay It Forward Mid-South campaign. From December 2020 through January 2021, the Community Foundation will direct all Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund donations to agencies supporting hospitality and service workers who lose employment, hours, or pay because of current health directives.
Operation Christmas Basket
Soulfull Memphis Operation Christmas Basket is a community event organized for the purpose of sharing the joy of the holiday season with thousands of seniors and needy families through the gift of a holiday food basket.
The Memphis Botanic Garden strives to enhance lives by connecting people with nature, increasing awareness and appreciation of our environment through 96 acres and 28 specialty gardens in the heart of Memphis. Orion is proud to support Holiday Wonders at the Garden 2020, a special and safe holiday experience for families of all ages.
Orion is proud to support this year’s Ride 2 Rosemary, a team cycling event to support West Cancer Foundation in their work to provide compassionate cancer care and innovative research. This year’s event will be the 10th annual 5-day journey, covering more than 500 miles from Memphis to Rosemary Beach, Florida.
For more than 125 years, Palmer Home has empowered children in critical situations to reach their true potential by providing restorative environments that support healthy development and nurture resilience. Orion is proud to support the work of Palmer Home in our community.
The 4th Annual Ed Murphey Classic brings track & field to the spotlight in honor of former Memphian and UT track standout Ed Murphey. The Classic brings elite athletes from all over the world to Memphis for this world-class competition. Its mission is to empower Memphis youth to make healthy lifestyle choices through track and field.
Orion is supporting Grizzlies Prep students by providing Chromebooks to ensure that these young men in the Memphis community have the tools needed to learn remotely if necessary during the pandemic. Click here to join us in supporting them with a donation of a Chromebook or Wi-Fi.
MIFA (Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association)
MIFA is committed to supporting the independence of seniors and families in crisis. They have overcome the many challenges brought on by COVID-19 and have delivered over 155,000 meals to 2,645 seniors in the Memphis community since March.
St. Patrick Community Outreach
St. Patrick Community Outreach works diligently to affirm the dignity of each individual by feeding the hungry and collaborating with residents and other institutions to help build a just community in Memphis.
Volunteer Odyssey matches Memphians with their ideal volunteer experience through high quality and innovative programs. In the past few years, they have tracked over 200,000 volunteer hours, which equals over $5 million in economic impact on Shelby County. Discover your perfect place to volunteer at volunteercompass.com.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Orion is proud to support Dress For Success Memphis in their continued mission of empowering women to achieve economic independence. This great non-profit organization provides support, professional attire, and development tools to help women thrive in work and life.
The RISE Foundation seeks to improve the community and transform the financial well-being of low income working people through Responsibility, Initiative, Solution, and Empowerment, providing financial literacy tools and incentives to help families build assets and make better financial choices.
BRIDGES empowers Memphis youth to reach across racial and socio-economic divides as they prepare for educational opportunities and future careers, inspiring courageous leaders committed to community transformation. Orion is proud to sponsor BRIDGES financial literacy programming, equipping the next generation with financial skills that will last a lifetime.
This December, Orion is proud to support Memphis non-profit Thistle & Bee in their work to serve the local survivors of human trafficking. Thistle & Bee offers a 2-year program of healing that includes free housing, employment, and life skills training. Every purchase of their handmade products featuring pure Memphis honey supports their work and provides steady employment to participants.
In honor of Hospice Month, our November Orion Gives Back partner is Methodist Hospice. We are inspired by their work to provide holistic, quality, compassionate hospice care to patients and families in the Mid-South.
American Cancer Society Mid-South | Real Men Wear Pink
Breast cancer impacts everyone. The Real Men Wear Pink campaign brings together a distinguished group of community leaders annually, determined to raise awareness and money to support the American Cancer Society’s mission and save more lives than ever before from breast cancer.
GoBabyGo! brings together UTHSC Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy and CBU School of Engineering students to provide mobility and independence for young children with disabilities through adapted toy cars modified for each child’s unique needs. Since 2016, nearly 30 Mid-South children have received cars through this innovative student-led partnership.
The 3rd Annual Ed Murphey Classic is bringing track & field to the spotlight in honor of former Memphian and University of Tennessee track standout Ed Murphey. The Classic provides youth athletes in the Memphis area the opportunity to experience a world-class track & field event with elite athletes from all over the world, along with community races and performance workshops inspiring a healthy and active lifestyle.
The Junior League of Memphis has supported Binghampton families for more than 10 years through the G.R.O.W. Program at Lester Community Center (Giving, Readiness, Opportunity and Wellness). JLM volunteers organize weekly programs for local parents and children on topics like financial literacy, job skills, and fire safety, each followed by a meal. The program has provided more than 11,000 meals and 500 volunteer hours since its inception.
We are proud to sponsor Orion Free Wednesdays at the Brooks, including extended hours from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. every Wednesday for visitors of all ages. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art enriches the lives of our diverse community through its expanding collection, varied exhibitions, and dynamic programs that reflect the art of world cultures from antiquity to the present.
Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy
Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy was founded to serve individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities and hardship who reside in Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas by providing equine activities and therapeutic riding to empower, inspire, nurture and succeed.
A wish experience can be a game-changer for a child with a critical illness. Wishes impact everyone involved – wish kids, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals and communities. Every 32 hours, Make-A-Wish® Mid-South grants the wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition, working daily to creatively exceed expectations and make the most of all donated resources to grant the wish of every eligible child.
Volunteer Odyssey matches Memphians with their ideal volunteer experience through high quality and innovative programs. In the past two years, they have tracked over 100,000 volunteer hours, which equals over $2 million in economic impact on Shelby County. Discover your perfect place to volunteer at volunteercompass.com.
American Heart Association of the Mid-South
The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. In the past year alone, the AHA has funded nearly $2 million in research in the Mid-South. By connecting healthy choices to those most in need, together we are making the Bluff City a heart-healthy home for all Mid-Southerners.
Junior Achievement of Memphis & the Mid-South
Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South has been dedicated to educating students about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy since 1955. Through an extensive offering of experiential, hands-on programs JA empowers students by helping them discover the tools they need to own their economic success. More than 10,000 students participate in JA programs each year throughout the Greater Memphis area.
SOULFULL MEMPHIS OPERATION CHRISTMAS BASKET
Soulfull Memphis Operation Christmas Basket is a community event organized for the purpose of sharing the joy of the holiday season with thousands of seniors and needy families through the gift of a holiday food basket.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF GREATER MEMPHIS
Orion supports Special Olympics of Greater Memphis and their mission to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY – MEMPHIS
Orion is sponsoring the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk this October, benefitting the American Cancer Society, as well as participating in the Real Men Wear Pink Campaign.
PALMER HOME FOR CHILDREN
Orion is proud to sponsor Palmer Home for Children through their Shotguns & Sunflowers event. Palmer Home provides residential care for children in need and the Shotguns & Sunflowers event raises vital funds and awareness for Palmer Home for Children.
CAMP SMILE
Orion is proud to sponsor Camp Smile Summer Camp Adventure, a unique camp experience designed to meet the needs of exceptional youth and young adults, ages 6 and older, with mild to moderate physical, developmental, or learning disabilities. Campers participate in a variety of activities, crafts, music, story-time, games, outdoor activities, and field trip. Click here to learn more about Camp Smile.
OVERTON “BARK”
Overton Park is a 342-acre public park in the heart of Memphis, TN. Orion supported Overton Park Conservancy’s efforts to raise funds to improve the “Overton Bark” dog park by installing new mulch and park benches. Click here to learn more about the Overton Bark Dog Park.
THE BLUES FOUNDATION
Orion was proud to sponsor the Blues Foundation’s Blues Foundation Music Awards as May 2018’s Orion Gives Back organization. The Blues Foundation preserves Blues history through the stories of honored performers, individuals, music, and literature. Click here to learn more about the Blues Foundation.
GIRL SCOUTS HEART OF THE SOUTH
Orion supported Girl Scouts Heart of the South and their curriculum during national financial literacy month. Girl Scouts receive valuable lessons in budgeting, financial planning, and money management. Click here to learn more about Girl Scouts Heart of the South.
DRUG FREE TIPTON
Drug Free Tipton is an organization devoted to the prevention of underage drinking, illegal drug use, and prescription drug use. Click here to learn more about Drug Free Tipton.
BODINE SCHOOL
Orion supported the Bodine School as the February 2018 Orion Gives Back community partner. The Bodine School’s mission is to lead the Mid-South in teaching students with dyslexia to read and succeed. Orion’s support helped sponsor the Sapphires & Blue Suede Shoes Auction, which raises funds for the school’s programming. To learn more about the Bodine School, click here.
STAX ACADEMY
Orion sponsored STAX Music Academy January 2018, a part of the Soulsville Foundation. The STAX Music Academy inspires young people and enhances their academic, cognitive, performance, and leadership skills by utilizing music with an intense focus on the rich legacy and tradition of STAX records. Click here to learn more about STAX Music Academy and the Soulsville Foundation.
