PROS Cares: Mary Underwood

To celebrate the spirit of the giving season, our PROS are sharing how they’re fostering a culture of care and making a difference in the communities where we live and work.     

A passionate philanthropist, published author, and performance motivator, meet Mary, Director of Incentive Compensation at PROS. Mary has been with PROS for 10 years and designs and manages our strategic incentive programs to drive performance and motivate our PROS Go-to-Market teams. Fun fact: Mary wrote and published a book with a group of sorority sisters called Herstory: Heartache, Happiness and the Hiccups Along the Way.  

We sat down with Mary to learn more about EMPOWER’s Adopt-a-Family event, a personal passion project she started with the employee resource group at PROS, and now a philanthropic favorite in its strong seventh year. She shares more about the program’s purpose, its growth and impact over the years, the joy of spreading holiday magic, and why this event holds a special place in her heart.

EMPOWER’s Adopt-a-Family event is part of PROS Global Day of Caring, a day dedicated for PROS colleagues to give back to the communities where we live and work with organized volunteer events across our global offices. This year’s events will take place on Dec. 5.

Let’s get to know Mary and a favorite PROS tradition!

Tell us about your journey to PROS.

My journey to PROS started while I was working as a Pricing Analyst on NCR’s deal desk. I was tasked with preparing a $100M proposal for a global rollout of new POS systems for Starbucks. The night before my executive bid review where I was responsible for presenting the P&L statement for the Starbucks account – Excel crashed! Frustrated but determined, I knew there was a better way, so I googled pricing software and found PROS. What seemed like a setback turned out to be the catalyst for a rewarding career journey. A couple of months later I resigned from my role at NCR, sold my house and moved from Atlanta to Houston to join the Strategic Consulting team. Ten years later, the rest is history. Time sure flies by when you’re having fun!  

Tell us about how EMPOWER’s Adopt-a-Family initiative started at PROS.

The EMPOWER Holiday Adopt-a-Family Program is a tradition personally close to my heart and deeply rooted in my childhood.

Over 30 years ago, I watched my mother organize a similar program at her workplace. I still recall the magic of watching her tirelessly organize and deliver toys, groceries, and household goods to families in our community. As my mom was preparing for retirement, I was inspired to carry that torch of compassion forward and partnered with Houston Children’s Charity to start our EMPOWER Adopt-a-Family Program at PROS.

Reflecting on those early days in Ohio, I remember the bitter cold as my family and I went to Walmart, bundled up, to physically choose gifts for our adopted family. The experience was both heartwarming and challenging, emphasizing the true essence of giving during the holiday season.

Although the landscape has changed with the convenience of making a difference with just a click of a mouse through Amazon Wish Lists, the spirit of giving remains as vital as ever.

Every contribution, no matter the size, adds up to creating a brighter and more joyful holiday for those in need. I invite everyone to join us in continuing this beautiful tradition!

How has this program and its impact grown over the years?

The program has grown exponentially over the years, marking an incredible journey of compassion and community support. In our inaugural year, we began with a single family consisting of four kids, and now seven years later, our commitment to making a difference has flourished, expanding our total reach to 30 families and over 100 kids in the Houston community. This substantial growth not only reflects the program’s success but also mirrors our deepening commitment to corporate social responsibility and underscores our employee’s willingness to extend a helping hand to those in need.

We also host a ‘Wraps & Beats’ party at our Houston headquarters for colleagues to come together to wrap the gifts for our adopted families. The celebration includes food, drinks, music and a chance to catch up and connect with colleagues before we close out the year.  

Tell us about this year’s families.

Every year, EMPOWER partners with Houston Children’s Charity. We share the number of kids we’re able to sponsor, and they connect us with families meeting our criteria. This year, EMPOWER is enhancing our impact by teaming up with PROS Global Volunteer Program and hosting the Adopt-a-Family event on our Global Day of Caring. With the extended support, we are adopting nine local families with 27 children ranging from newborn to 18 years old.

Reflecting on how this program has evolved at PROS, what are you most proud of?

Growing up, my mother ingrained in me the belief that with privilege comes responsibility. As I reflect on the evolution of the Adopt-a-Family program at PROS, I take immense pride in how our commitment to giving back has grown beyond providing toys for children to extending support to parents by providing essential items like food, household goods, and personal items. It’s so gratifying to see our impact go beyond the immediate joy of unwrapping presents to reach into the everyday lives of these families and make a long-term impact.

A particular moment that captures that evolution occurred when I asked a mother if there was anything specific we could purchase for her. Instead of prioritizing her own needs, she selflessly requested a small Christmas tree to create a festive setting for her children’s gifts. Witnessing her tears of gratitude when we arrived with a carload of toys and stayed to help her decorate the tree was truly touching. In that shared moment of decorating and conversation, she opened up about her life and upbringing, creating a connection that transcended the material aspects of the program. This experience exemplifies the heart of the Adopt-a-Family initiative at PROS – not just providing gifts but fostering genuine connections, understanding, and support within our community.

How does this initiative support PROS values?

At PROS, “We Care” is not just a slogan; it’s a commitment to making a meaningful difference in the communities where we live and work. Supporting the Adopt-a-Family initiative reflects the understanding that corporate responsibility extends beyond business transactions. It reinforces that the success of a company is not only measured by financial achievements, but also by its positive contributions to society. Engaging employees to adopt multiple families and ensuring they have a joyful holiday season highlights PROS recognition of its role in creating a more caring and compassionate world.

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From Houston Children’s Charity: The Adopt-a-Family program allows Houstonians the opportunity to create holiday “MAGIC” by becoming a family “Sponsor.”  Thanks to their generosity, over 2,000 children were blessed with holiday joy. The families involved with our holiday programs were touched with a giving spirit and toys that bring those special memories that every child deserves.  Enthusiasm for this seasonal program has grown each year to reach approximately 500 families through 400 sponsors. As a result, since the program’s inception, our sponsors have helped tens of thousands of children understand the MAGIC of the season!