Camping for a Cause
April 2012
For the second straight year the employees of H. J. High went “charity camping” at Quest’s Camp Thunderbird in Apopka. The project this year was designing and building a pavilion on the observation deck overlooking the lake for the camp’s physical and behavioral challenged summer campers. Since 1969 Quest’s Camp Thunderbird has been dedicated to providing a real summer camp experience for people with special needs.
Under the direction of H. J. High’s chief estimator and camper at heart Randy Carroll a plan was designed, materials were purchased and the H. J. High campers cut, hoisted and assembled a beautiful new lakeside observation platform roof structure. For those less crafty, we also helped by adding a new coat of paint to the restroom facilities in one of the many buildings on site and cleaned and organized various areas in need of some TLC. It was a hot spring day, but our team managed to beat the heat and finish our projects with a smile.
H. J. High 2012 Charity Selections
January 20, 2012
H. J. High employees gathered on January 6, 2012 for our First Friday celebration and to hear presentations for charitable organizations which H. J. High may be involved in for 2012. Each year employees are welcomed to nominate a charity and give a small presentation on why H. J. High should lend our services and how we can help. We then vote on which charities we would like to participate in. The three charities with the most votes are our sponsored charities for the year. We heard some great presentations this year, even some familiar charities we have elected to help in the past. After taking in all the information, we cast our votes and here are the results:
H. J. High Charity Event – October 2011
Saving our four-legged friends
H. J. High chose Pet Rescue by Judy as our third charity of the year. Pet Rescue by Judy is a local nonprofit, no kill, animal shelter dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding homes for cats and dogs that have been abandoned and are without the loving homes they deserve.
After meeting with Judy, it was evident that her greatest need was monetary. With vet bills, the cost of animal care, and a company van with no A/C and on its last legs, we made a commitment to help her raise the money she so desperately needs. We decided to organize and sponsor a Dash for Dogs 5K and Pet Festival which was held in Sanford’s Fort Mellon Park on October 29, 2011. Our employees assisted in putting this event together from the very beginning. We have helped with soliciting sponsors, creating a website, marketing and organizing every last detail that goes into an event this size. On the rainy race day, our employees weathered the storm and were out in full force helping run the many activities scheduled that day: 5K race, 1-mile doggie dash, Halloween costume contest for pets and their people, raffles, silent auction and entertainment.
H. J. High Charity Event – June 2011
Preserving our ecosystem
H. J. High and other volunteers from UCF, the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida and the Nature Conservancy spent the day in the waters of Mosquito Lagoon for one of our most unique charity days yet – Oyster Reef Restoration. After working a few hours at the office preparing “oyster mats” it was time to complete our journey by deploying these mats into the water.
The day started with a boat ride through the inner harbor where we passed numerous reefs which had been restored by this dedicated group of volunteers. We arrived at our reef and quickly began work:
It’s All About a Healthy Ecosystem
In conjunction with our second charity of the year, H. J. High employees spent the afternoon of June 3rd in Florida’s toasty weather assembling some very unique mats. “Oyster mats” to be exact. Why would we do such a strange thing? It’s all about helping to nurture and extend a healthy ecosystem.
The Nature Conservancy’s Oyster Reef Restoration project restores oyster reefs by laying “oyster mats” in the knee-deep water of the Indian River Lagoon. We lent a hand by creating small mesh mats which were “sewn” with exactly 36 oyster shells attached vertically with zip ties. Each oyster shell was previously drilled with one hole through which the zip ties were threaded and affixed to the mesh. The mats are later attached to each other in the Lagoon’s water, forming a large quilt-like structure and providing a stationary place in which oyster larvae will settle and grow.
H. J. High Charity Event – March 2011
Helping people with disabilities achieve their dreams
H. J. High participated in our first charity event of 2011 on Friday, March 11. The opportunity was the chance to help Quest – a charity that inspires and employs Central Floridians with disabilities by offering career choices and opportunities to learn, live, work and play. This day-long event meant closing the office for that Friday with most of the staff able to join in the activity – to say we were excited would be an understatement! We started the day early at Quest’s Camp Thunderbird – a beautiful wooded lakeside camp in the Apopka area. (more…)