In honour of Valentine’s Day and the National Salute to Veteran Patients Week in the US (10 – 16 February), Balfour Beatty Construction turned to some of its youngest artisans in Southern California to create thousands of valentine’s cards. The cards were hand delivered to veterans at the Veteran’s Home of Chula Vista, Naval Medical Center San Diego, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in University City, Wounded Warrior Bachelor Enlisted Quarters in Camp Pendleton and VA Long Beach Healthcare Center in Long Beach.
School children from Santee, El Cajon, San Diego, Torrance and Colton, California not only created the heartfelt notes and bookmarks, but on 11 and 13 February, they joined forces with Balfour Beatty Construction employees to deliver the items. Many patients also received gift bags filled with playing cards, snacks, pencils and magazines.
Balfour Beatty Construction employees donated the gift bags, snacks and pencils; coordinated the donations of playing cards and magazines from outside organisations; and worked in teams to package and deliver the items. The children, ranging in age from kindergarten to fifth grade, created more than 2,000 personalised cards with messages of thanks and appreciation to recognise and remember those who have made great sacrifices in order to keep our country safe.
Participating schools included:
| Santee School District | Torrance Unified School District | Colton Unified School District | Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chet F. Harritt School Pepper Drive School PRIDE Academy Rio Seco School Sycamore Canyon Elementary |
Arlington Elementary Anza Elementary Carr Elementary Hickory Elementary Seaside Elementary Towers Elementary Victor Elementary Walteria Elementary |
Grant Elementary | Literacy First Charter School, El Cajon Nazareth School, San Diego |
Many of the participating students attended schools that were, or will, be built or modernised by Balfour Beatty Construction including Santee, Torrance Unified and Colton Unified school districts.
“This is a great way to join forces with our school clients and to say thank you to a special group of men and women who need our support and encouragement and to increase awareness that our vets are valued and important members of our communities,” said Brian Cahill, president of Balfour Beatty Construction’s Southwest division. “We are deeply rooted in the neighbourhoods where we live and work and are committed to supporting these communities through acts of citizenship and kindness.”
This is the third year Balfour Beatty Construction has worked with local schools to deliver valentines to veterans in local communities.
Media enquiries:
Connie Oliver
Balfour Beatty Construction
Tel. +1 (214) ?451 1066
coliver@balfourbeattyus.com
Notes to editors:
1. An industry leader for more than 80 years, Balfour Beatty Construction provides general contracting, at-risk construction management and design-build services for a wide variety of markets, serving clients in both the public and private sector. With more than 2,400 employees across the U.S., the company has been cited as a Top 10 Green Builder by EngineeringNews-Record, and as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For® by FORTUNE magazine, four years in a row. The company is part of London-based Balfour Beatty plc, a global infrastructure services business operating in more than 80 countries, with a worldwide commitment to providing assets that help societies function, develop, and thrive. To learn more about the company, visithttp://www.balfourbeattyus.com/ or look for BalfourBeattyUS on Facebook,Twitter and LinkedIn.
2. Balfour Beatty (www.balfourbeatty.com) is a world-class infrastructure group with capabilities in professional services, construction services, support services and infrastructure investments.
We work in partnership with our customers principally in the UK, continental Europe, the US, South-East Asia, Australia and the Middle East, who value the highest levels of quality, safety and technical expertise.
Key infrastructure markets include transportation (roads, rail and airports); social infrastructure (education, specialist healthcare, and various types of accommodation); utilities (water, gas and power transmission and generation) and commercial (offices, leisure and retail).
The Group delivers services essential to the development, creation and care of these infrastructure assets including project design, financing and management, engineering and construction, and facilities management services.
Balfour Beatty employs 50,000 people around the world.
