Employees have chances to volunteer in the community, take part in things like bake sales, back-to-school supply donations, company-wide waffle breakfasts for a $5 donation (Gripple matches every employee donation) and raise money for the American Heart Association by wearing red for Valentine’s Day. “Everyone who dresses up will get $10 towards American Heart Association,” Balsamo said.

Thanks to one of Gripple’s partners, of ASC Equipment, Co., based in Monroe, North Carolina, the company recently sponsored two electronic detection K9s for Defenders for Children, an organization that’s committed to preventing child sexual abuse, trafficking and child pornography, founded in 2010 by Toni Clark.

“Gripple’s dedication to giving back to the community was one of the main reasons we decided to start partnering with them a little over three years ago,” said Joel Davis, owner of ASC Equipment, Co. “Gripple’s values aligned with our company, ASC Equipment Co. values so it was a trust relationship from day one. When ASC Equipment Co. had the opportunity to partner with Defenders for Children, Gripple was our first call to dream about how we could make an even greater impact than was originally anticipated. We are very grateful to Gripple for all they have done to help spread the word far and wide for Defenders for Children. I believe this campaign is going to help Defenders for Children break barriers faster than they could have imagined just a year ago.” 

Defenders for Children is an all-volunteer organization that educates adults and children about sexual crimes against children while raising awareness within the community. 

When Davis reached out to Gripple regarding his recent donation to Defenders for Children, the manufacturer jumped on the opportunity to get involved.

“The Defenders for Children organization is really amazing, and what they're trying to do, and we're just so happy to be involved in it,” Balsamo said. 

Grip and Gripple, the two electronic detection K9s named for their sponsors, work in the Cyber Crimes Division and Special Investigations Division at Lake County State's Attorney's Office, Illinois and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Summerville Police Department, South Carolina, respectively. Special investigator Robert Beach is Grip’s handler, while Detective Danielle Heidkamp is Gripple’s handler.  

“It's a neat collaboration that came together of two companies that want to help and they just love the canines, and they want to make an impact in the community,” Clark said. “And I’m hoping this will create a ripple effect of more companies stepping up, because then you have the power to stop all this madness.”

Both dogs were trained in Indianapolis and spent weeks bonding with their handlers before returning home. The K9s are trained to sniff out and detect electronic devices that contain videos and images that can assist law enforcement in locating children in sexual abuse or trafficking cases. Grip and Gripple also serve as therapy dogs for the children involved in these cases, but Beach said that Grip provides him comfort, too, especially after repeated exposure to images and videos of child sexual abuse.  

These four-legged investigators are a much-needed addition to the law enforcement agencies. 

“The problem that they are running into right now is finding manpower,” Beach said of law enforcement. “Having organizations donate something like this is — as simple, but yet as complex as this is — is huge for an agency. And it's one of those free gifts that has so many benefits to it. As far as from the crimefighting portion, that in and of itself is huge.”

So far, Defenders for Children has placed 11 dogs. Their goal is to place 8 in 2024, Clark said. As for Gripple’s involvement with Defenders for Children, the company recently donated $5,000 to Defenders for Children and, Balsamo said, the organization will continue to be on Gripple’s radar.