Holiday Giving Still Vibrant At Pardee Homes, With Employees Sharing Gifts and Good Cheer in Every Company Region

    LOS ANGELES, CA, December 18, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Giving back to the communities in which it builds, is an enduring tradition at Pardee Homes, especially at holiday time and no matter how cold the economic weather. "When the going gets tough, the tough give back," said Mike McGee, president and chief executive officer of the LA-based homebuilder. "This year, we are working harder than ever to help the less fortunate enjoy the season."

So again, Pardee Homes has swapped the "lunch money" it once devoted to employee holiday gatherings in favor of its Holiday Giving campaign. Combining financial and volunteer resources, the seventh annual Holiday Giving program benefits 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 implement their Angel Tree Project for the RAIN Project Transitional Living Center in Camarillo. The center is a temporary living facility for homeless single adults and families with children in Ventura County.

"Angel Tree is a mainstay of our holiday outreach," said Sandra Kitashima, corporate communications coordinator for Pardee Homes. "Employees here in LA form the heart of Angel Tree, and every year, they surpass the stated goals."

"Adopting" a resident at RAIN, Pardee Homes employees get names from the company Angel Tree and provide wrapped gifts or gift cards. A price limit ensures equitable giving, and the goal is to reach all adults and children at RAIN.

Santa Claus and his volunteers take over from there, delivering gifts and enlivening the holiday party, this year held December 4 for RAIN residents and staff. Pardee Homes also organized a book, clothing and food drive; employees who wished to do more were invited to make additional monetary gifts. Mohawk Carpeting donated new carpet for two of RAIN's common rooms, and Holiday Carpet (www.holidaycarpet.com) installed it as an in-kind donation to the facility.

"Pardee Homes has again helped to make our holidays bright," said Tina McDonald, RAIN Program Manager. "Their care and thought translates to gifts that will help our residents' transition to independent living. We sincerely thank them for their generosity and commitment."

The RAIN Project center provides quality housing for families and adult individuals, and respite and recuperation rooms for clients with medical conditions. RAIN's goal is to put residents into more permanent housing, get them employment, and help them maintain independence. RAIN works with other county agencies to achieve these goals; see United Way of Ventura County (www.volunteerventuracounty.org) and click on "Agencies" for more on RAIN.

In Pardee Homes' LA/Ventura region, 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 will be making the season bright for three families needing extra help this year, and will also be donating a portion of its available holiday funding to HomeAid San Diego. 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.

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