Holiday Giving Caps Charitable Year at Pardee Homes, as Employees Share Gifts and Good Cheer in Every Company Region

LOS ANGELES, CA, January 07, 2011 (Press-News.org) Giving back to the communities in which it builds is a core value of Pardee Homes. While outreach continues year-around, the holiday season marks a time of extra effort by company staff and management. "We are making our contributions in time, money and gifts stretch as far as they can, because the need is acute," said Mike McGee, president and chief executive officer of the LA-based homebuilder. "We see it not as sacrifice but as a tremendous reward--helping those less fortunate really makes the holidays bright for all of us at Pardee Homes."

Pardee Homes finances its Holiday Giving campaign with funds once devoted to festive holiday luncheons for employees. Today, employees help decide where to put available dollars and volunteer their time to implement the campaign. Many top their service with extra gifts from their own pocketbooks.

This year marked the eighth annual Holiday Giving program. It benefited the temporarily homeless, physically or mentally challenged children, senior citizens and others identified by each of Pardee's regional offices.

In LA corporate offices, employees used their Angel Tree Project on behalf of RAIN Transitional Living Center (RAIN TLC) in Camarillo. The center is a transitional living facility for homeless single adults and families with children in Ventura County.

"Angel Tree has been a mainstay of our outreach since the start of Holiday Giving," said Sandra Kitashima, corporate communications coordinator for Pardee Homes. "Los Angeles-based employees lead the effort, and they always surpass the stated goals."

Angel Tree starts with LA-based employees who "adopt" a RAIN TLC resident from a list provided by RAIN Communities, Inc./RAIN TLC. Pardee Employees provided wrapped presents or gift cards for their chosen resident, and Santa Claus and his volunteers take it from there, delivering the gifts at a holiday celebration at RAIN TLC.

"We are delighted to report that all 60 residents were 'adopted' this year," said Kitashima. "We are also delighted to report a great time by all at the December 16 party with Santa, Pardee volunteers and the residents and staff of RAIN TLC!"
Pardee Homes also organized a book and clothing drive for Holiday Giving 2010. Thanks in part to donations from individual employees, the company purchased such additional needed items as car seats, infant walkers, bedding, new activity mats and new staff chairs, which were shipped directly to RAIN TLC.

In addition, Mohawk Carpeting (http://mohawksustainability.com) donated new carpet for RAIN TLC. Holiday Carpet (www.holidaycarpet.com) installed it as an in-kind donation to the facility. Tony Caruso from HALO (www.haloleewayne.com) donated 100 cuddly throw blankets for the children at RAIN TLC.

"Pardee Homes' commitment to our needs continues to be exceptional," said Tina McDonald, RAIN TLC Program Manager. "We thank them for their steadfast generosity, and for the thought and care they devote to Angel Tree each year. Their help really assists our residents' transition to independent living."

RAIN TLC provides quality housing for families and adult individuals, and respite and recuperation rooms for clients with medical conditions. The program's goal is to transition residents into permanent housing and help them maintain independence. RAIN TLC along with RAIN Communities, Inc. work with other organizations and agencies to achieve these goals; see United Way of Ventura County (www.volunteerventuracounty.org) and click on "Agencies" for more on RAIN TLC.

Pardee Homes' employees also pitched in on a regional basis for Holiday Giving. In the LA/Ventura region, Holiday Giving recipients are Carousel Ranch in Santa Clarita, which provides therapeutic riding programs for the disabled; and the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita, dedicated to ending violent family systems.

In Las Vegas the help is for The Shade Tree shelter for homeless and abused women and children in crisis. Also see www.carouselranch.org, www.dvcsantaclarita.com and www.theshadetree.org.

In San Diego, the company is making the season bright for five families needing extra help this year, and will also be donating a portion of its holiday funding to the Senior Community Center, a San Diego HomeAid project. Additionally, Pardee's San Diego office will contribute about one-third of its giving budget to the San Diego Building Industry Association (SD/BIA) Cares Bike Drive.

Also devoting its holiday resources to HomeAid is the Inland Empire division, which is helping Olive Crest Children's Ranch in Perris with gift certificates for residents, donations of toys, canned goods and contributions for needed house wares. See www.homeaid.org and www.olivecrest.org.

Established in 1921, Pardee Homes is recognized for quality new homes, responsive customer service and dedication to the civic goals of the communities in which it builds. The company maintains homebuilding operations in Southern California and in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also see www.pardeehomes.com.