Dan Nemec Helped Raise Over $500,000 Through his Company’s Annual Holiday Drive
For more than three decades, Dan Nemec, Vice President of Finance at Executive Director Incorporated (EDI), has championed the company’s annual food drive which is a testament to his personal values and the organization’s commitment to serving the community. Dan has been a driving force behind the organization’s long-standing support of Hunger Task Force that, as of 2024, surpassed $500,000 in donations and provided over 22,000 pounds of food to families in need.
Dan’s passion for addressing hunger stems from his upbringing. Inspired by his mother, who routinely made food donations while grocery shopping, Dan developed an early awareness of community needs and the importance of giving back. Having worked at grocery stores throughout his youth, Dan understands firsthand the fundamental importance of food security. “Food is a basic need, and it was always hard to fathom that children in our community didn’t have access to consistent food security,” he shared.
When Dan joined EDI, he brought this ethos with him, launching the company’s inaugural food drive 31 years ago. “It started small, with a donation box in the office,” he remembers. The annual food drive grew into a signature holiday event that incorporates fun competitions and engages staff across the organization.
In 1996, Dan expanded the food drive to include monetary donations, recognizing Hunger Task Force’s remarkable buying power as a game-changer in the fight against hunger. “Knowing how far Hunger Task Force could stretch every dollar helped us shift our campaigns to focus on monetary drives, which really picked up steam over the years,” Dan expressed.
The introduction of the Virtual Food Drive has broadened participation and enabled employees, families and friends to contribute easily online. “Sharing the link has been a game-changer,” Dan notes. “Every year since 2017, we’ve seen a significant increase in giving.”
For Dan, the food drive is more than just a holiday event. He joined the Hunger Task Force Executive Council in 2016. In addition to his leadership on the council, Dan has volunteered at The Farm, answered phones at the WISN Food For Families Phone Bank and assisted with food distributions.
For Dan, the work is far from over. “Hunger is a year-round issue,” he emphasized. As EDI’s food drive enters its fourth decade, Dan remains focused on sustaining its legacy and continuing to expand his involvement beyond the holidays as a leader on the Executive Council.
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