SRP VOLUNTEERS
SRP employees have a long history of dedicating their time, energy and talent to make Arizona a
better place to live.
The cornerstone of SRP's culture of community service is its employee volunteer program,
called SRP VOLUNTEERS. The program helps employees, retirees and their families become involved with community-based organizations in need of assistance.
Remarkably, more than 85% of SRP employees participate in community programs, volunteering an
average of 3.3 hours per week – which translates into thousands of dollars worth of labor in service to the community.
SRP is proud to recognize those who go the extra mile for Arizona communities through the
Karl F. Abel Volunteer Recognition Awards, a special program that
commends the extraordinary volunteer efforts of SRP employees and retirees.
SRP VOLUNTEERS can assist non-profit organizations, events and projects. Please contact call (602) 236-2542 if you would like to discuss the volunteer support your organization, event or project requires.
If you are involved in a non-profit entity seeking a grant or financial contributions, please refer to SRP's
corporate contributions guidelines.
Highlights of SRP VOLUNTEERS projects follow. These projects are organized for SRP employees,
retirees and their families, but if you'd like to become involved in a similar project, please
contact the non-profit organization directly. They are sure to welcome your help.
Andre House: Andre House is a non-profit organization offering basic services to poor and homeless people, as well as educational and volunteer experiences for all those interested.
Located in downtown Phoenix, Andre House is sponsored by the Priests and Brothers of Holy
Cross from the University of Notre Dame. Andre House has a local board of directors and
all contributions are used locally. The House seeks to build community through service.
For the past several years SRP VOLUNTEERS have been cooking and serving dinner meals
during the summer, when Andre House has fewer volunteers. About 10 to 15 SRP volunteers
help out every Thursday night from June through September.
Please visit the Andre House web site if you or someone you know is interested in volunteering there.
Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing. SRP has been a partner with Habitat for Humanity since it began developing the South Ranch II, a 39-acre parcel of land located between 12th and 16th streets, between Southern Avenue and Baseline Road.
Homeowner families help pay for their home through sweat equity hours and no-interest loans. The homes are sold for the cost of construction. All mortgage payments are pooled together and are used to fund more Habitat homes. Residents are required to attend classes to learn how to become a responsible homeowner, such as how to manage their electrical use.
South Ranch II is within the SRP service area, and all homes are SRP-Certified Homes.
SRP VOLUNTEERS and the IBEW Local Union 266 constructed three houses in the South
Ranch II subdivision, and SRP made contributions toward the purchase of construction materials.
Rio Salado beautification: Choked with tumbleweed and littered with debris, a 20-acre portion of Tempe's Rio Salado Project stood neglected and uninviting before 100 SRP employees, families and friends swept
through.
They pulled weeds, cleared debris and planted 85 indigenous desert trees -- Arizona ash,
cottonwood, desert hackberry, mesquite and willow -- throughout the natural riparian habitat. The goal was to restore the native wetland to its original splendor by removing non-native vegetation and replacing it with indigenous species.
Volunteers from SRP have returned to the site on several occasions and plan to continue
this beautification effort.
Arizona Special Olympics: SRP employees teamed up to serve seven separate meals to more than 2,500 athletes, coaches and officials at the Arizona Special Olympics Summer Games. Their work
complemented the efforts of several individual employees who volunteer with Special
Olympics throughout the year as organizers, directors and committee chairmen.
Special Olympics offers people with intellectual disabilities in 141 countries the
opportunity to train and compete in some two dozen sports. The games enable athletes
to participate in friendly competition designed to promote individual growth and development.
Holiday food drive: Several years ago, SRP and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 266, joined a score of other local companies to address the problem of hunger in Arizona
Together, they sponsored the Arizona Family Holiday Food Drive to benefit area food banks.
Donations went to St. Mary's Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul Society, The Salvation Army,
United Food Bank and Westside Food Bank. Food collected at SRP's Coronado and Navajo
generating stations was distributed to local charities in St. Johns and Page, Arizona.
SRP employees have participated in a holiday food drive each year since then, putting forth
a spirited effort by selling chili bowls and holding bake sales and raffles to raise money to buy food items for the drive.
Every year, the goal set for the number of food items to collect is met or surpassed. During the 2000 drive, more than 120,000 cans were donated by SRP employees!
Adopt-an-Angel and Adopt-a-Family: Each holiday season, hundreds of SRP employees volunteer to Adopt an Angel: an underprivileged child who has a wish for a certain holiday gift. Children's names and
wish lists are provided by schools participating in the Adopt-an-Angel program, and the
information is passed along to SRP employees who volunteer to participate. Often, the
gifts that are given are the only new toys these children receive.
In addition, groups of SRP employees volunteer to Adopt a Family. The concept is the same,
with community associations providing the names of less-fortunate families and their list of needs.
New or gently used clothing, gift items, household appliances and furnishings are then donated by SRP employees, who personally deliver the gifts to their adopted families' homes.
Highlights of SRP VOLUNTEERS activities include:
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The collection and donation of eyeglasses and hearing aids by SRP employees for
recycling by The Lions Club. The Lions, in turn, match donations with someone in need.
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SRP employees formed teams that participated in the
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Race for the Cure,
and employees also helped staff the event.
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In partnership with the
city of Tempe,
SRP employees participated in Environmental Day/National Make a Difference Day, helping to
plant, clean up and mark trails throughout the city.