HDG Shares the Magic of Christmas Morning as Part of Annual Christmas Gift Drive
December 10, 2018
In what has become an annual tradition at HDG, the holiday gift buying season includes a gift drive to support local children. Since HDG employee Tim Reidy started the tradition four years ago, the firm has raised over $3,500 that has been converted to toys and clothes and has helped ensure that every child can experience the magic of Christmas morning.
HDG’s gift drive supports the East End Cooperative Ministry in East Liberty, whose mission is to help vulnerable adults and at-risk children and youth throughout the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Since our donations surpassed expectations again this year, we were able to provide gifts for a total of fourteen children, all between the ages of 4 and 16. The initial money raised by employees was doubled, thanks to the firm’s matching program for employee charity donations, and over $1,000 was used to buy gifts to help these local children receive everything on their list this year!
After HDG employees shopped for each of the fourteen children, we all got into the holiday spirit by gathering in our open meeting space for a special gift-wrapping lunch on December 6th. Geared up with food, festive music, and lots of wrapping paper, the HDG “elves” wrapped away.
Dwayne Mihalow, Project Architect who joined the firm earlier this year, had this to say about his first experience with the gift drive. “It’s easy with how busy our lives can get to lose focus on what’s important. When I joined HDG, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the company makes such a big effort to help those who are less fortunate. It is so refreshing to be part of a group of professionals who willingly push aside the pressing business deadlines to help others in need. I’m proud to be a part of a group who puts moral responsibility before personal gain to give kids an unforgettable Christmas morning.”
After all of the presents were wrapped, HDG’s Tim Reidy played the role of Santa Claus and dropped off boxes and bags of gifts to be given to the children. Each bag is donated anonymously, so this keeps with the magic of the season, the way it should be.
For others interested in helping with the East End Cooperative Ministry’s mission, visit http://www.eecm.org/ or if interested in volunteering, contact Tracy Hudson, EECM Volunteer Coordinator, at 412-345-7124.
