15th Anniversary July Feature: Grace Rasulo

Tier One is thrilled, humbled, and grateful to be heading into our 15th year as a full-service PR, social and content agency. We see this moment in time as an opportunity to celebrate and recognize our fantastic team members. On the 15th of each month (Feb.’18 - Dec.‘18), we are spotlighting a team member and giving them an opportunity to raise a little extra awareness and support for a cause that’s important to them. Here’s to the next 15! #TOP15

Grace Rasulo

Sr. Content Specialist and Account Associate

Grace is a goal-setter…
It is already a feat that Grace has ready 28 books in 2018, but as a voracious reader, Grace set a personal goal of reading 50 (probably more) by the end of the year. Some of her favorite reads thus far include It, The Handmaid's Tale, and We Need To Talk About Kevin. Grace is also a huge hockey fan and has already been to eight NHL arenas. She loved seeing games in Toronto and Dallas, but she isn’t stopping there: she wants to see her favorite sport played at ALL 31 NHL arenas, with Madison Square Garden at the top of her list!

Grace’s curiosity comes from...
Growing up just outside Chicago, she was constantly exposed to new and different things, people, and experiences, which helped ignited a love for adventure in Grace that has really blossomed over the years. She has logged numerous road trips with friends to explore new areas, and she recently ventured to California to enjoy the Coachella music festival.

Since her college days at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Grace has supported…
Habitat for Humanity through MAB (Mizzou Alternative Breaks), which organizes service trips for students instead of going on winter or spring break. Her first service trip involved a week-long Habitat for Humanity trip with 12 people in Asheville, NC. Grace says, “It was a completely life-changing experience.” She didn’t realize she would be physically building a home: everything from building the foundation to putting the roof on -- the whole 9 yards.

Grace remembers it as the most rewarding experience of her life. She said, “Meeting the families who were so thrilled to finally have a clean, safe place to call their own, something that I completely took for granted in my life, was truly eye-opening.” After this trip, Grace was selected to lead another trip with Habitat for Humanity the following winter.

Grace wants to clarify the organization’s mission and approach...
She explains that Habitat does not, contrary to popular belief, give away “free homes.” There’s an application process, and those chosen to receive a Habitat home have to do a certain number of hours of work on the house before the project is complete. The rest of the building is completed by an amazing group of volunteers. Habitat also sets its future homeowners up for success by enrolling them in classes on money management, how to make minor home repairs to save money, and other essential life lessons so they not only get into a home, but stay in it.

Tier One is supporting the cause by…
Donating to Habitat for Humanity to support the organization’s next mission trip.

When it comes to corporate support of causes near and dear to their employees...
Grace feels it’s really important for employees to feel like they’re making a difference, and it’s hard to find time outside of work to be actively involved with philanthropy. That’s why Grace appreciates Tier One’s approach - it makes it easy for me to still feel involved. It’s amazing to be a part of a culture that supports the individual philanthropic interests of each of its employees.

Those interested in learning more about Habitat for Humanity can checkout…
Habitat.org for a database of all of their build sites and a place to learn more info about volunteering!