For Tawny Kotchko, SVP of Corporate Marketing at Momentive Software, community impact is part of everyday life. Through her long-standing involvement with Person to Person, she’s found meaningful ways to support others while shaping how she leads, parents, and connects with the world around her.
Supporting stability—and possibility
After moving to Connecticut nearly eight years ago, Tawny was introduced to Person to Person, a local nonprofit focused on helping individuals and families across lower Fairfield County access essential resources and build more stable futures.
From healthy food and clothing to housing support and economic opportunity, the organization takes a comprehensive approach to meeting community needs. That combination of immediate support and long-term impact is what drew Tawny in.
“It’s about helping people navigate where they are today while also creating a path forward,” she shares.
Making giving back part of family life
Tawny’s involvement has taken many forms over the years—from supporting fundraising and awareness efforts to participating in hands-on volunteer opportunities with her children.
One of the most meaningful aspects has been experiencing that impact together as a family. Through school-led initiatives like food drives, coat collections, and donation programs, her children have been able to see how their contributions directly support others in their community.
“They’re walking donations over, helping sort them, and seeing where everything goes,” she explains. “That kind of visibility helps them experience first-hand the impact of giving back.”
Today, giving back is a regular part of their routine—from donating clothes and toys to participating in seasonal drives. Those experiences have helped build a strong sense of empathy, awareness, and responsibility from an early age.
Seeing impact up close
Over the years, Tawny has supported Person to Person in both direct and indirect ways.
One experience that stands out is volunteering to assemble “baby basics” kits for mothers in need. The kits included simple, essential items—diapers, swaddles, and clothing—things many people might pick up quickly during a routine trip to the store. But through that experience, Tawny saw how critical those items are for families who may not have easy access to them.
“When you’re putting those kits together, you realize how meaningful something so small can be,” she shares. “These are everyday essentials, but they can make a real difference for someone navigating a challenging moment.”
These experiences have shaped not only how she approaches volunteering, but also how she thinks about community engagement more broadly, recognizing that consistent, small actions can collectively create meaningful and lasting change.
Shaping a more connected leadership style
Tawny’s nonprofit involvement has influenced how she approaches leadership, particularly in working with mission-driven organizations.
Through her experience with Person to Person, she’s gained a closer understanding of how purpose influences decision-making at every level. Organizations that are rooted in a clear mission often evaluate success through both outcomes and impact, balancing operational goals with the needs of the communities they serve.
“It’s given me a better perspective on how purpose shows up in day-to-day decisions,” she explains. “That viewpoint is especially important in marketing, where building genuine connections and authentic engagement matter.”
That same mindset carries through in how she leads her team. Tawny places importance on understanding what drives individuals, creating space for different perspectives, and connecting day-to-day work back to a larger purpose.
“People want to feel connected to what they’re doing,” she says. “When you can help draw that line between their work and the broader impact, it creates a stronger sense of ownership and engagement.”
Finding energy in meaningful work
At Momentive, that sense of connection extends into the workplace.
“There’s a real alignment between what we do and the impact our clients are trying to create,” Tawny says. “That makes the work more energizing and fulfilling.”
Supporting organizations that serve communities creates a shared sense of purpose and contributes to a culture where people feel connected to both their work and each other.
For anyone looking to give back, Tawny encourages a simple approach:
“You can give your time, your talent, or your treasure. Every contribution matters.”
Getting involved doesn’t require a big commitment to start. Donating items, volunteering skills, or joining efforts through schools, community groups, or local organizations are all meaningful ways to contribute.
“Start where you are and build from there,” she adds.
A day dedicated to impact
If given the opportunity to spend a full day volunteering anywhere, Tawny would focus on both direct support and strategic contribution.
“I’d want to be on the ground, connecting with the work firsthand,” she says. “And I’d also spend time with nonprofit leaders, thinking about how to expand their reach—whether that’s through marketing, storytelling, or engaging more people.”
It’s an approach that reflects her belief in combining action with expertise to create lasting impact.
