The Arizona Builders Alliance participated in a school supply drive to donate school supplies to over 950 children at Children First Academy – Phoenix Campus and Sequoia Charter School Elementary. A total of almost $20,000 was collected by more than 100 ABA member companies between July and August of this year.
The Arizona Builders Alliance began collecting new backpacks for underprivileged children in the summer of 2010. The collection was so popular with member companies that it was expanded the following year to include basic school supplies for all grade levels.
In 2012, the ABA’s Community Service Board partnered with Children First Academy, a non-profit charter school with campuses in Tempe and Phoenix. All of the school’s students and their families are at or below the poverty line and a vast majority of the students are homeless. The Phoenix campus has approximately 250 students. This year the Tempe Campus merged with Sequoia Charter School Elementary, bringing their total number of students at that campus to 700.
From ABA member donations, the ABA’s Community Service Board was able to provide every student with all needed supplies and backpacks. Because of the surplus of donations, headphones were provided for all children attending Children First Academy in Phoenix.
In addition, to collecting, ordering, and receiving supplies, ABA Members spent one day inventorying and dividing up school supplies and two days distributing school supplies to the children to shouts of “Thank You!”
“The appreciation that the students, teachers, and administration express when we distribute the supplies in early August is heart-warming. The excitement and gratitude is clear the moment each child enters the room. The wonderfully positive response we’ve gotten from our members, as well as CFA, has made the drive something we look forward to every year,” said Erica Lange, assistant executive director for the ABA.
The ABA’s Community Service Board is made up of general contractors, subcontractors and affiliate members in the commercial construction industry. With approximately 30 members on the board, there is a lot of support and assistance with both the annual backpack drive and Christmas Toy Drive.
