CARES 2026 Mid–Year Review

Celebrating Community Impact Through Coughlin CARES

For more than two and a half years, the Coughlin CARES program has allowed us to do something we truly enjoy—help local nonprofit organizations share their mission and expand their impact through community outreach programs and events.

What began as a simple idea has grown into a meaningful way for us to support the communities we serve. Through complimentary print, design, and marketing services, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with organizations that are improving lives across the North Country. From youth recreation and education to the arts, conservation, faith-based initiatives, community advocacy, and animal welfare, we’ve met some incredible people doing extraordinary work.

Every partnership reminds us that strong communities are built by people who are willing to invest their time, talents, and resources into helping others. We’re grateful that Coughlin CARES gives us an opportunity to support those efforts.

Recent Partnership Spotlight: North Country Pet Adoption Services

One of our most recent partnerships was with North Country Pet Adoption Services  (NCPAS), a foster-home-based animal rescue organization dedicated to saving animals through rescue, rehabilitation, education, collaboration, and responsible pet population management.

As animal lovers ourselves, we were excited to support NCPAS and their annual Shelter Slumber Pawty event this past spring. The event serves as one of the organization’s largest fundraising and awareness initiatives, helping raise critical funds for rescue operations, medical care, and long-term rehabilitation for animals in need—especially senior and special-needs pets. It also helps educate the community about shelter overcrowding and the challenges rescue organizations face every day.

Supporting organizations like NCPAS is exactly why the Coughlin CARES program exists. When great organizations are able to reach more people and tell their story effectively, the entire community benefits.

What Our Partners Are Saying

One of the most rewarding aspects of the CARES program is hearing directly from the organizations we support.

During the application process, NCPAS Director Patti Gorby shared the following:

“Coughlin Printing’s partnership would play a vital role in the success of the 2026 Shelter Slumber Pawty by supporting event visibility and community outreach. As a locally rooted business with a history of community involvement, Coughlin Printing aligns strongly with NCPAS’s mission of compassion, service, and local impact. This partnership offers meaningful public exposure while directly contributing to an event that creates lasting, positive change for animals and the North Country community.”

Throughout the project, Patti’s team faced the same challenge many nonprofits do—juggling a long list of responsibilities with limited time and resources. As plans evolved, deadlines shifted and project needs changed, but our team was happy to adapt along the way.

Whether it was helping identify more budget-friendly production options, accommodating last-minute updates, or supporting a special social media request to help find homes for pets in urgent need of adoption, we were glad to help wherever we could. Feedback like Patti’s reminds us that sometimes flexibility, responsiveness, and a willingness to serve can be just as valuable as the products themselves.

After the Patti shared the following on a post-event survey:

“The support from Coughlin Cares helped our Shelter Slumber Pawty look polished, organized, and welcoming. Their customized signage and pens enhanced the experience for our guests and helped make an event that raised over $22,000 for homeless animals a success. We are incredibly grateful for their investment in our mission.”

Looking Ahead: Growing the Program Together

While we’re proud of what Coughlin CARES has accomplished over the past two and a half years, we’re always looking for ways to make the program even more effective.

One challenge we’ve encountered recently is a decline in both nominations and applications. In fact, for the first time since launching the program, we were unable to select a second-quarter CARES recipient this year because we simply did not receive enough nominations or applications to identify an awardee.

That’s disappointing—not because there isn’t great work happening in our communities, but because we know there are many deserving organizations that could benefit from additional support.

We’ve also noticed that many nominations come in for the same organizations repeatedly, suggesting there may be other worthy nonprofits that aren’t yet on our radar.

As a result, we’re making a few adjustments:

• We’re continuing to refine the nomination process to help us discover a broader range of nonprofit organizations throughout our region.
• We’ve added a direct application option, allowing eligible 501(c)(3) organizations to apply without first needing a nomination.
• We’re actively seeking feedback from nonprofits and community members to help guide the future of the program.

Most importantly, we want to hear from you! 📣

Is there still a need for complimentary print, design, and marketing support for nonprofit organizations? Would fewer awards with larger project budgets create a greater impact? Would nonprofits benefit more from volunteer support from our team than from marketing services?

Your feedback will help us determine how the program evolves and where we can make the biggest difference moving forward.

If you have suggestions, ideas, or feedback, please contact Wil, the Coughlin CARES Program Coordinator, at wil@coughlin.co. We genuinely welcome your thoughts.

Help Us Find the Next Great Mission

The future of Coughlin CARES depends on community involvement. ❤️

If you know of a nonprofit organization doing great work in the North Country, we encourage you to nominate them here. Your nomination could help us discover a mission that needs support and deserves greater visibility.

And if you’re part of an eligible 501(c)(3) organization, we encourage you to apply directly here. The application process is simple, and we’d love to learn more about your organization and the impact you’re making.

Together, we can continue helping the organizations that make the North Country a better place to live, work, and play—and ensure that Coughlin CARES continues to make a meaningful difference for years to come.