Community Champions Series, August 2026
| In this series, we celebrate the individuals whose dedication, compassion, and commitment are helping young people thrive, and whose everyday actions are making a lasting difference across our community. Community Champions go above and beyond to create safe spaces, open doors, and offer steady support when it matters most. |
Ryerson
Ryerson has stood by our side since 2023. Their incredible commitment, spanning sponsorships, generous donations, and hands-on volunteering, reflects a true passion for meeting our community’s needs. After being named our Corporate Partner of the Year in 2024, they continue to go above and beyond in every way possible. We are thankful for their ongoing partnership and the lasting, transformative impact they help us make in the lives of the young people we serve.
Please tell us a little bit about your business and team.
Ryerson is a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China. Founded in 1842, Ryerson, together with Olympic Steel, has approximately 6,500 employees and approximately 150 locations. Visit Ryerson at www.ryerson.com.
How did you get introduced to The Link?
We learned about The Link from a performer at another charity event – he mentioned his involvement with The Link, and we happened to be looking for an organization focused on serving disadvantaged youth.
When you learned about The Link, what inspired your team to get involved?
The Link has a variety of ways that it partners with youth across the Twin Cities. We like that there are multiple ways that we can get our employees involved to help make a difference in a youth’s life.
How would you describe The Link to a client/partner/friend who has never heard of us?
The Link is an organization that helps disadvantaged youth suffering from homelessness or transitioning out of incarceration or sex trafficking. Their leadership has a lot of former youth they previously supported that have found their way out of the situations they were in and are impacting the work being done for future generations.
When you think about the future of our community, what role do you see The Link playing, and why is that role so vital right now?
The Link plays an integral part in the future of our community as they are connected where it matters. The criticality of helping our youth find a future that is different from their past can’t be understated.
What do you think sets The Link apart from other organizations doing similar work?
Their scale, connections within the community, and focus on youth from top to bottom (including their inclusion of youth and their daily operations) is what sets The Link apart from others doing similar work.