Giving & Getting Back: Ameriprise, Cambridge, Commonwealth

Vivacqua explained: "By sharing their stories and awarding funding to these organizations, we raise awareness, encourage others to get involved, channel additional resources to those in need, and demonstrate the generosity of the financial advice industry."

He added that, "We're also proud of the independent advisors choosing Cambridge who have also been recognized and honored for their dedication in giving back across the country and globally."

Mark Anselmo, president of Anselmo Investment Management, based in San Diego and Temecula, California, launched the Our Nicholas Foundation in 2005, with his family, following his son Nicholas' diagnosis of autism.

The purpose of the foundation is to increase autism awareness and provide support for education, work opportunities, therapies, families and social programs that "enrich the lives of children and adults with ASD," according to Anselmo. "Our hope is that we will provide those on the spectrum and their families the tools they need to thrive."

To raise awareness, the non-profit holds a Walk in the Vines for Autism. It also has organized other activities to help fund 3,000-plus items for local special education classrooms, four sensory integration rooms, peer buddy programs, play dates, support groups and sports leagues (including Kick With Nick soccer, one of the largest autistic leagues in the country).

Commonwealth

Jeffrey Scales, managing principal, JSA Financial, in Rhinebeck, New York, has been involved with various charities for the past 10 years and recently was awarded Commonwealth's Special Service Award, an honor given out each year at Commonwealth Financial Network's National Conference that recognizes an individual who has made an impact and personifies the core vision and values of the firm.

Although he supports many non-profits, Scales is most actively involved with Rotary International, which focuses on global service work via the local high school's Rhinebeck International Club, as well as Riverkeeper, for which his firm serves as a major corporate sponsor and manages an annual cleanup site.

With Rotary International, he enjoys taking "high school students to experience firsthand both the poverty and the joy of Nicaraguans as they live with families and construct school classrooms," he said. For Riverkeeper, where he serves as an ambassador and committee member, "The Hudson River is the core of water protection efforts worldwide and is my personal connection each day to the beauty of nature that deserves and requires our stewardship," the advisor explained.

He also is a co-founder and past president of the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and a member of the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, and he serves on the advisory board of the Center for Environmental Policy at Bard College.

— Check out Investment Advisor magazine's other Giving & Getting Back stories.

Ginger Szala is executive managing editor of Investment Advisor. She can be reached at [email protected]. Janet Levaux is editor-in-chief of Investment Advisor. She can be reached at [email protected].