Weight loss experts say you shouldn’t equate food with love – but in some cases, the comparison couldn’t be more appropriate. Sundt employees working at eight different federal, heavy civil and K-12 school construction projects in El Paso, Texas, showed their caring for the community by participating in a holiday food drive that netted more than 600 pounds of donated edibles (valued at approximately $3,000). The donations were given to two area nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to individuals and families in need: Reynolds Home in El Paso and Families and Youth Inc., in Anthony, N.M.
The food drive was organized by the Sundt Foundation and was supported by a number of subcontractors and vendors in addition to Sundt employees.
“The outpouring of support was phenomenal,” said Monica Ochoa, a Sundt administrative assistant assigned to the company’s $7.5 million machine gun target practice range construction project at Fort Bliss Army Post. “We could not have experienced the level of success we had without the generous contributions of Sundt employees and our wonderful group of subcontractors. I am so proud to be part of such a wonderful and giving community.”
The Sundt Foundation was established in 1999 by Sundt Construction, Inc., as a way for its employee-owners to give back to the communities in which they work. In addition to sponsoring volunteer activities, the Foundation distributes grants every quarter. The money to fund those grants is raised primarily through contributions from Sundt employees, which are then matched dollar-for-dollar by the company.
Since its inception the Foundation has made grants totaling more than $5 million to hundreds of worthy organizations. Most grants are awarded in communities where Sundt has an established office or major project underway. Employees can also earmark their donations for charitable organizations that benefit members of the military and their families.