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Vendors and employees of United Tool and Fastener, San Antonio, continued their holiday giving tradition that benefits the long-running charity, “Construct a Kid’s Christmas,” on Dec. 5, 2019 at Freeman Coliseum. The event, administered by Construction News, includes dinner, a cash bar, dancing, casino games and live music by Texas Unlimited Band.
For more than a decade, various UTF employees, customers and vendors have combined their efforts to buy bicycles for children under the care of the Bexar County Child Welfare Board.
The toy drive has become an annual Christmas-giving tradition for San Antonio UTF employees combining comradery, charity, and entertainment.
“Each year (in San Antonio), we gather our resources to buy bicycles to donate to ‘Construct a Kid's Christmas’, a program put together by Buddy and Reesa Doebler of Construction News,” UTF Sales and Marketing Vice President, John Calhoun, said.
This year, United Tool and Fastener donated 55 bicycles to Bexar County Child Welfare Board to distribute to kids who otherwise may not get a visit from Santa.
“We have given or bought hundreds and hundreds of bikes,” Calhoun said. “We all have so much to be thankful for, and this charity event is something that helps children in our community.“
Each year during the holidays, Construction News holds a fundraising gala and collects toys. After the event, the toys and contributions are given to the Bexar County Child Welfare Board, which supports child welfare in Texas.
“55 is the most (bicycles) we’ve ever been able to donate at one time. We’re proud to say that every employee (of UTF San Antonio) pitched in in addition to several of our closest friends (who happen to also be customers and vendors).”
“In addition to buying bicycles, we also buy a couple of tables and often invite sales people and their spouses or customers,” Calhoun said.
This year, more people were invited to attend the charity event.
Those attending included Kyle Anderson of DeWalt, Matt Rapata and Kate Johannesen of DeWalt, Gordon and Robin McCleary of Gordon The Plumber, Justin Smoot of Alterman Electric, Brice and Beckie Wood of UTF, Brian and Katrina Yezierski of UTF, Ben Alvarado of DeWalt, John Arzola of UTF, Brennan Mach of Milwaukee, Alejandro Moncada, Tim and Kathy Doege of Big State Electric, Sheldon Trevino of Alterman Electric, Nate and Amy Sexton of TAS/UTF, and John and Karin Calhoun of UTF.
The Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards' (TCCWB) mission is to support a statewide network of volunteers concerned with the welfare of children, especially those suffering from abuse and neglect.
