The Bay Meadows team partnered with There with Care , a Bay Area organization that provides services to families and children during the critical phase of a medical crisis.
While the holidays are often a special time for families, it can be an extraordinarily difficult time for those with children who are facing a critical illness. Throughout December, the Bay Meadows team partnered with There with Care, a Bay Area organization that provides services to families and children during the critical phase of a medical crisis.
The team raised over $1,600 in donations, which came from Bay Meadows team members and the project itself, and collected items for gift bags.
After a month of fundraising, team members gathered to assemble 30 care packages for children in need, including clothing, toys and supplies for babies, and books and games for teenagers.
When the time came to drop off the donations, There with Care was overwhelmed by the team's generosity.
"My favorite part of the initiative was when Yasha dropped off the bags," Project Director Ted Williams recalled. "They were already incredibly happy when he walked in with three bags, only to be surprised to find out there were 27 more!"
During these difficult and unprecedented times, the Bay Meadows team has challenged themselves to appreciate all the things they are grateful for – heeding the advice of Webcor's leadership coach, Tim Rhoades.
"The ability to volunteer as a team in a healthy and safe way was a great chance for the team to find gratitude as one," Ted said.
SoCal Webcorians raised $2,140 for the LA Regional Food Bank, which will go towards over 8,500 meals for LA residents in need.
Food insecurity is an enormous problem in Los Angeles, one that has only been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a typical month before COVID-19, the LA Regional Food Bank provided food to 300,000 people. That number has increased exponentially and is now estimated to be at more than 900,000 people served monthly.
In the past, Webcor's SoCal Community Committee has typically held a Silent Auction at the annual holiday party to raise funds for the local community. Due to COVID, the team opted to take the fundraising virtual.
Webcorians were able to purchase virtual raffle tickets and were subsequently emailed their tickets. On Dec. 18, a live Zoom raffle was held – giving away a variety of coveted items that were generously sponsored by the company and its subcontracting partners.
While unable to meet in person, there was no shortage of generosity!
Together, SoCal Webcorians raised $2,140 for the LA Regional Food Bank, which will go towards over 8,500 meals for LA residents in need.
"Once again, it's a great showing and testament to your gratefulness and generosity," said Senior Vice President Gust Soteropulos. "No one should be without food, and you helped a lot towards reaching the goal of eliminating hunger. Thank you and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!"
Six Webcorians, including Tom Harrell, Assistant Superintendent Tim Scapin, and four concrete laborers stepped up to help USBID prepare for the holiday festivities.
How soon is too soon to begin decorating for the holidays?
Between the pandemic, a nail-biting election, and general end-of-year stress, we could all use a little levity these days.
Macy's famed Union Square location pulls no punches – planning for the holidays begins months in advance. From the 83-ft tree and sparking lights to the giant menorah display, Union Square is an iconic part of San Francisco's holiday season.
This year, the Webcor team at the citizenM hotel project site is volunteering with Union Square Business Improvement District (USBID) – providing construction services to make Union Square's festivities a reality.
"Chris Boss from USBID reached out to us to see if we would be able to help with this year's efforts," explains Senior Project Manager Tom Harrell, who works on the citizenM project. "I brought the opportunity up at a team meeting, and everyone was very eager to help out!"
Six Webcorians, including Tom Harrell, Assistant Superintendent Tim Scapin, and four concrete laborers stepped up to help USBID prepare for the holiday festivities, embodying Webcor's core value of community.
On October 31st, the team began lying plywood and installing barricades, preparing the area for a crane to install the massive Christmas tree and menorah display.
"We'll be out here about five times between now and January," explains Tim. "Today, we're installing the barricades to keep the public out, and laying plywood on top of Union Square for protection. We'll help with the installation set-up, and then be back for the removal in January."
If you happen to be in San Francisco during the holiday season, be sure to stop by Union Square to catch a glimpse of the team's hard work!
