Ensuring Community Change with ISU Insurance- The Olson Duncan Agency

Part of what enables Sharefest to complete successful community projects every Workday lies in the support we receive from our local businesses. Over the past two years, Sharefest has been fortunate to have the support of ISU Insurance- The Olson Duncan Agency in several different capacities. We would like to express our gratitude for the amazing work we have accomplished together over the past two Annual Workdays.

In 2012, ISU Insurance- The Olson Duncan Agency tackled the beautification of Dodson Middle School, overhauling its school garden and performing general cleanup. Volunteers of all ages restored some much-needed TLC to the campus, including a large red “D” and a beautiful mural to reflect school spirit.

For our 10^th Annual Workday, ISU Insurance- The Olson Duncan Agency was again up bright and early at one of our local middle schools. Alongside King’s Harbor Church, they painted, completing landscaping projects, and installed new cabinets in offices at Jane Addams Middle School in Lawndale. Staff and kids alike joined our beautification efforts, and demonstrated the commitment to the communities ISU Insurance- The Olson Duncan Agency serves.

The ISU Group is a national network comprised of over 150 independent agencies which collectively writes approximately one billion dollars of annual premiums. All member offices remain independently owned and operated while embracing a common national image. ISU Insurance- The Olson Duncan Agency was established in 1945 and operates out of Torrance, CA. At ISU Insurance Services, they are dedicated to providing clients with a more convenient and comprehensive approach to the management of their risk and insurance.

Thank you, ISU Insurance- The Olson Duncan Agency for your continued support of Sharefest, and for creating positive change within our communities!

WE DO WINDOWS | a workday blog by life covenant church

So many windows. So, so many windows. 

That’s what I kept thinking in the days leading up to the workday. The task seemed enormous. Can we get it done in one day?

Weeks before the Workday we met with principal William Baker at Victor Elementary School in Torrance to do a walk through and discuss projects for the workday. Create a mural celebrating the “we do our best” work ethic of the Victor Vikings. Sure, we can do that. Clean the computer lab and 70 computers. No problem. Clean every window in the school…by hand. Seriously?

I think we committed before we knew what we were being asked to do.

Principal Baker had surveyed his staff to see what they saw as the biggest need. The overwhelming response was window cleaning. The catch was that many of the windows were not sealed so a power washer was out of the question. We had to do it the old fashioned way with buckets, sponges and paper towels.

As volunteers from Life Covenant Church, Victor PTA and school staff gathered that morning we set out to do the tasks at hand. A couple other projects had been added last minute, which only added to my concerns about finishing the window washing. I was cautiously hopeful everything would get done.

The window washing team met the challenge head-on. The mood around the school was upbeat and positive. Ladders went up, buckets were filled and windows began to shine.

At lunch a little more than half the windows completed. I looked around and saw fatigue setting in. But after good meal—thanks to the Victor PTA and Chick-fil-A—and some rest, the team was back at it. The afternoon proved to be daunting, but in the end the team rallied and prevailed. They took a menial task, that most of us hate doing, and turned it into a beautiful expression of selfless service.

At the end of the day we had finished two murals, sanded and painted four picnic tables, prepped and painted the entire health office, cleaned the computer lab and hand washed over 200 windows.

I think the most telling comment I got was from Principal Baker as we toured the school at the end of the day. The school had been dealing with the unexpected passing of a beloved teacher. He told me our presence that day and particularly the clean windows had made a tremendous difference. He commented that the feel of the school now was lighter than it had been all week and couldn’t wait to see the faces of teachers and students as they arrived Monday morning.

 Written by Kevin Dobruck // Life Covenant Church

balfour beatty || Joining 400 volunteers to improve 19 schools in need

As with any major community project, the generosity of sponsors, partners, and volunteers makes all the difference. Sharefest would like to express its gratitude for one of our major partners, Balfour Beatty, for our upcoming 9th Annual Workday.

An Estimated $200,000 in School Improvements to be Completed at No Cost to Schools

Balfour Beatty is diving in headfirst this year and taking on projects at 19 schools (THAT'S RIGHT.....19!!!) in the Redondo Beach, Torrance and Wiseburn school districts. Over 400 Balfour Beatty employees, contractors, vendors, family members, and volunteers will complete beautification projects on campuses such as Alta Vista Elementary School, Edison Preschool, Lincoln Elementary School, Madison Elementary School, Redondo Shores Continuation High School, Redondo Union High School, Richardson Middle School, Tulita Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, and several Da Vinci Charter Schools.

Balfour Beatty executives at Towers Elementary on our 8th Annual WorkdayBalfour Beatty Construction remains a leader in the U.S. commercial construction industry, providing general contracting, at-risk construction management, and design-build services through more than 2,400 professionals nationwide. It is no stranger to the South Bay community, as it is behind major modernization efforts throughout the South Bay and has been instrumental in previous Workdays (three years in a row!). Some of the projects made possible by Balfour Beatty this Annual Workday include interior and exterior painting of buildings, building outdoor and mobile technology classrooms, sanding and painting picnic benches, gardening and landscaping, and of course, construction projects such as building fences, wooden sandboxes and planters, performing irrigation work, and re-slurrying and repainting of parking areas. All of these projects will be provided at no cost to the schools thanks to our awesome partners and volunteers. We are highly looking forward to making the dreams of these schools a reality, and applaud Balfour Beatty employees and families for their determination to give back to the communities they serve:

“When I think about the excitement and smiles on the children’s faces when they see the improvements at their schools, I’m tremendously proud to be a part of this company and of the people and partners who work with us.”

- Eric Stenman, Regional CEO for Balfour Beatty Construction

“Participation in the Sharefest Workday is an opportunity for the company’s employees and suppliers to give back to the communities they serve. Knowing our efforts will be enjoyed by the staff, students and surrounding communities for years to come is extremely gratifying. 

- Tom Schlegel, Balfour Beatty Construction’s Sr. Program Manager and BBC Sharefest Project Coordinator

There is still time to be a part of Sharefest’s 9^th Annual Workday on Saturday, April 28^th. Visit our Workday page for more information on how to volunteer, sponsor a project, or spread the word. You can also email us at info@sharefestinc.org.

with a heart for healthy living, kaiser permanente joins in on impacting san pedro high school

There has been a significant movement toward improving nutrition within the Los Angeles Unified School District.  In fact, the district has begun a program that promotes various fruits and vegetables through their Network for a Healthy California program, heightening student awareness of the benefits of these foods.  High school health classes dedicate a four-week unit toward instructing freshman students in habits that promote nutritious living.  Lacking in these initiatives is the hands-on interaction that enlivens students’ educational experience.

Students working hard to complete phase 2Sharefest, in its dedication to creative collaboration for positive change, has once again, brought together its wealth of resources to complete the Victory Garden at San Pedro High School, transforming an unused plot of land into an organic, sustainable classroom filled with nutritious foods.  Partnering alongside contractors like Cornerstone Construction Group and Living Color Landscapes, caring organizations such as Kaiser Permanente as well as teachers and students from San Pedro High School, Sharefest looks forward to assisting in the completion of a project that will impact the campus and community of San Pedro for years to come.

Its design began as the dream of James Weston, to provide a garden for both students and community members to partake of; participating together in the planting, maintenance, and sharing of the fruits of their labor.  Sharefest was invited to provide expertise in the promotion and development of the project and brought in Landscape Designer Karen Collins from Living Color Landscapes to take this dream to the next level.  As the project grew, so did the dreams of what it could be.  The initial phase of the project was to clear the space, grade the space, and construct the planters.  San Pedro High students and members of Cornerstone Construction Group, Dakotah Masonry, and City on a Hill Church came together to successfully complete the project.  Phase two pooled the resources of SPHS students and Dakotah Masonry to prepare the space for the laying of pavers on the floor of the garden area.

On Saturday, April 28 the garden will be completed.  Much of what will be done in the final phase comes as a result of the generous donation of finances and volunteers by Kaiser Permanente.  Crystal Williams, Public Affairs Representative at Kaiser, shares, “Kaiser has a desire to be in our community promoting community interaction, volunteerism, and healthy living.  The Victory Garden project brings together these values.” 

Principal Jeanette Stevens is appreciative of the project and believes that it will greatly impact the campus.  “We are so thankful to Sharefest and Kaiser for their generosity in making this project happen.  We are excited to be able to have an amazing space in which our students can take ownership, learn valuable life-lessons, and enjoy.”

The Victory Garden project brings together a partnership of organizations that desires to impact their community in a tangible way.  With the combined efforts of Sharefest, Kaiser Permanente, Thrivent Financial, San Pedro High students and teachers, as well as the local church congregations and businesses, what was once a dream will become a reality.  The impact that will be made will be generational, as students for years to come will be able to taste the fruit of labor.

Rendering and overall project designed by Karen Collins with Living Color Landscapses

matching up grateful recipients to excited volunteers | annual workday 4.28.12

Although many schools across the greater Los Angeles areas continue to experience budget cuts, Sharefest volunteers and donors are determined to provide much-needed resources through our upcoming Annual Workday. Workday efforts will be spread across nearly 60 sites this year, and include first-time recipient Catskill Elementary School.

Mural in need of some updating.Located in Carson, Catskill Elementary serves over 730 students in Grades K-5 and achieved an improved Academic Performance Index (API) score last year. The majority of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. This year's Sharefest project, dubbed "Catskill Cougar Pride Day" will be managed by Mike Gooch, from long-time partner King’s Harbor Church. Our volunteers will be hard at work cleaning classrooms, bathrooms, offices, and outside areas, as well as provide manpower for some fresh coats of paint, gardening, and weeding. The Catskill Elementary handball courts will also receive some special attention with two new, colorful murals, which will really add some pizazz to the campus.

Principal Suzanne Zopatti is eagerly awaiting the completion of these projects, and is no stranger to Annual Workdays. Her previous school, Caroldale Learning Community, has partnered up with Sharefest and King’s Harbor Church twice in the past. “This year, I am truly excited because I already have an outstanding staff and community. We already appreciate and want to thank King’s Harbor Church for selecting our special school!”

Sharefest, Project Manager Mike Gooch, and Yard area prior to Workday in need of Sharefest TLC.his team are also eager to dive in to the projects at Catskill Elementary, and are excited to be helping a school that is so appreciative of the work to be done: “When we contacted Catskill Elementary they were not aware that they had been chosen as a Sharefest project and you would have thought that they had won the lottery… They were very grateful to say the least and have been wonderful to work with.  It is so gratifying to work with an institution that really appreciates the job you do. What could be a better model for what a church should represent than reaching out to meet the needs of the community?”

We couldn’t agree more, and are always so thankful for the hundreds of volunteers that help Sharefest make our Workdays such a success. To read more about projects like this one or to get involved, please click here to visit our Annual Workday page.