McCarthy’s Heart Hats grant is single-largest gift to pet therapy organization
Gabriel’s Angels founder Pam Gaber was recently surprised with a financial donation that broke the record for the single largest gift ever donated to the growing pet therapy organization when McCarthy, through the firm’s community giving program, Heart Hats, presented her with check for $50,000.
“McCarthy’s Heart Hats exemplifies true corporate stewardship. We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication on the part of the employees and sponsors. Many children will begin the healing process because of this generous donation,” said Pam Gaber, founder and president of Gabriel’s Angels.
McCarthy selected Gabriel’s Angels in the fall during its search for a beneficiary for its annual subcontractor golf tournament. Gabriel’s Angels was selected as the 2007 recipient of the funds among hundreds of potential applicants in Maricopa County.
Based in Mesa, Ariz., Gabriel’s Angels is a pet therapy program that helps abused and at-risk children. In the past, the golf tournament has raised up to $35,000 for area non-profits annually, which is in the range of what Gaber was expecting.
“To say the least I was just shocked at the final amount of the check. Quite literally speechless! This is the single largest check we have received in seven years of providing pet therapy to Valley children,” Gaber added.
Since the inception of the McCarthy Heart Hats program just three years ago, the company has distributed more than $150,000 to worthwhile organizations. Prior recipients of Heart Hats funds are the Crisis Nursery and Tempe Communities in Schools.
The mission of Gabriel’s Angels (www.gabrielsangels.org) is to deliver pet therapy programs to abused, neglected and at-risk children, nurturing their ability to love and trust, thereby freeing them from a cycle of violence. Founded in 2000, the organization has grown to more than 95 pet therapy teams who regularly visit nearly 80 crisis nurseries, domestic violence shelters, group homes and homeless shelters in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. Each dog must undergo a certification process, which involves training and testing, and each human volunteer must also be trained and pass the standard security screening required by state law.
“For us to be able to significantly increase the money we’re donating each year indicates a strong commitment from our subcontractor community, and we’re proud that they’re a part of our team” said Bo Calbert, president of McCarthy’s Tempe-based Southwest Region.
The donation enables Gabriel’s Angels to expand its therapy programs to an additional 20 agencies currently on the organization’s waiting list. These funds will enable the agency to serve a total of 7,500 local abused and at-risk children annually.
About McCarthy Heart Hats
The McCarthy “Heart Hats” community involvement program is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and recognizing McCarthy employees’ volunteer efforts in a variety of causes to ensure real needs are being met in communities where employees work, live and play. McCarthy employees are as passionate about building better communities as they are about construction.
Founded in 1864, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the oldest and largest commercial construction companies in the nation. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.
