TEMPE, AZ – Arizona’s construction industry has come together to build a special Christmas for hundreds of children in need through the Arizona Builders Alliance’s (ABA) annual toy drive. Approximately 150 construction companies, including Rosendin, JE Dunn Construction, McCarthy Building Companies, and Hensel Phelps, and their employees donated tons of toys and $50,000+ to the 13th Annual ABA Community Service Board’s 2021 Toy Drive to donate to five nonprofit organizations all serving underprivileged children in Arizona.
The benefiting organizations included Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, Sunshine Residential Homes, Sequoia Charter School, Santo Niño Catholic Community, and ASA Now. Toys were presented to children at Sunshine Acres Children’s Home in Mesa during their annual Christmas Party, in which each child received $125 worth of toys from the wish lists that each put together. Children opened their presents, sang carols, played games, and got to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus while celebrating the joy of the holiday. The ABA delivering Christmas cheer at this party has become a staple in the Sunshine Acres community.
“Running the annual toy drive and visiting Sunshine Acres never stops being rewarding,” says Erica Lange, ABA Vice President. “We see the way the children at the home remember us year after year. We have even had children grow up to pursue a career in the construction industry and join the ABA because of the impact we made on them each Christmas.”
Arizona’s construction industry also collected truckloads of gifts and toys for Sunshine Residential Homes in Glendale, Sequoia Charter School in Mesa, and Santo Niño Catholic Community in Phoenix. These charities serve children who are separated from their parents, survived abuse and neglect, or whose families cannot afford to buy Christmas gifts. The ABA also donated $5000 in toys to ASA Now, an organization that advocates, supports, and assists children and families impacted by foster care.
“This year, Rosendin got the opportunity to adopt a third-grade classroom at Sequoia Charter School and deliver gifts to them specialized from each student’s wish list,” said Aimee Olmedo, Rosendin Outreach Director, and ABA Community Service Board member. “It was so rewarding to see the smiles on their faces when we finally got to give them the gifts we had been collecting for weeks in preparation. As we collaborate with our fellow construction companies for this event every year, I am grateful to be a part of such a giving industry.”
The ABA exists for the purpose of advancing the productivity and profitability of its members and the construction industry. The ABA is an affiliation of the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. and the Associated General Contractors of America. Celebrating its 25th year in 2019, the ABA is proud to service the construction industry through advocacy, education, and networking opportunities in the state of Arizona. To learn more, visit: www.azbuilders.org.
Rosendin, headquartered in San Jose, is one of the largest employee-owned electrical contractors in the United States. For more information, visit: www.rosendin.com.
