In the Community, Life at Flatiron, Sustainability
Flatiron Shows Its Giving Side This Holiday Season
Helping people and families who face tough times is so important, especially during the holiday season. The simple act of donating a toy, can of soup, pair of socks or children’s book can put a smile on someone’s face.
Here are some Flatiron giving campaigns from across North America.
Canada
Vancouver, B.C. offices and project teams donated food items to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Backpack Buddies, toys were given to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, and Flatiron made monetary donations as well.
Central
Flatiron’s Colorado District office hosted two holiday drives for the Denver area. Team members delivered toys to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora and Integrated Pediatric Therapy Center in Greeley. They also donated presents to Denver’s Adams County School District 14 (see video above). Organizer and proposal coordinator, Katie DePorter, overwhelmed by her co-workers’ generosity, said “Colorado knocked it out of the park! I am simply amazed and humbled that I work with such a caring group of people.”
From our corporate headquarters in Broomfield, Total Awards director Tiffany Herron organized a toy collection for the Children’s Hospital of Colorado. She has a personal connection — in January 2013, her son suffered second-degree burns on both hands and received three weeks of treatment from their burn clinic. Said Tiffany, “I’ll never forget the kindness and compassion the doctors and nurses at Children’s showed our son and family.”
“There’s a great satisfaction knowing we can save lives and help our community,” said Sam Rochet, Flatiron contract & claims specialist. Sam organized a holiday-themed blood drive with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center in Houston, Texas. His high-school-aged daughter is a blood-donor event coordinator, which gave him the idea.
Mid-Atlantic
Our North Carolina-area teams have partnered with Toys for Tots since 2017. For the second year in a row, the NC-540 project team in Raleigh donated the most toys out of all Mid-Atlantic project teams. Additionally, our Morrisville office (see image at very top) nearly doubled its donation goal this year!
Southwest
Flatiron’s Terminal 1 San Diego International Airport team and joint-venture partners Turner collected toys for Ronald McDonald House and Toys for Tots in California. For those who wanted to contribute but didn’t want to hit the malls, volunteer “elves” were happy to do the shopping.
Flatiron and architectural partner, Gensler, hosted a book drive for San Diego’s Voices for Children. At their annual holiday party, foster children received a book, stuffed animal, pizza, and a visit with Santa.
Los Angeles District Nine Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr. hosted a holiday toy giveaway in partnership with Flatiron and Balfour Beatty. The event also featured photos with Santa and the Grinch, pony rides, face painting, music and other family-friendly activities.
Northwest
Sacramento, California, teams divided and conquered by supporting two charities. One group sorted, bagged and boxed fresh produce and non-perishable items for the Sacramento Food Bank. The other partnered with the American Society for Preservation of Cruelty to Animals to collect blankets, towels, toys and pet food for sheltered animals.
Folks from the Concord, California, office gathered toys around the Christmas tree for Toys for Tots.
Bellevue, Washington’s Interstate 405 project team and joint-venture partners Lane Construction collected toys for Treehouse this holiday season. The non-profit helps give foster kids a childhood and a future by focusing on their specific educational needs. Human Resources manager and event coordinator Monika Katona says, “They help over 7,800 youth in foster care just in Washington state.”
We are so grateful for all employees who helped our neighbors in need during this winter season. May everyone’s holiday be merry and bright.