Stellar Employees Open Hearts, Wallets to Support Troops
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - October 24, 2007 - The Stellar Foundation is supporting the troops fighting the war on terror, and there is a very personal connection to the cause. Joy Bardin, a purchasing manager at Stellar, has a 24-year old daughter stationed at Camp Taji in Iraq.
Stellar senior executives asked all employees at the company’s Jacksonville headquarters to assist Bardin in sending items to her daughter, Army Specialist Crystal Davis, and her fellow soldiers at the 785th Medical Company at Camp Taji.
Stellar employees did not hesitate to answer the call. “On a Friday afternoon, two large trash cans were placed in our lobby, and the word was sent out to please donate,” Bardin said.“When I came to work Monday and saw that both buckets were completely full, I was absolutely overwhelmed with emotion.”
“Sometimes when I read the paper and watch the news I cannot help but lose some faith in the world we live in – then you see people open their hearts as they have during this time and it renews my faith to the core. I hope that every employee knows how much their donations will be appreciated by the soldiers in Iraq. There are so many young men and women over there experiencing things that we cannot begin to imagine. I have talked to Crystal and her group and they are all so excited about the packages they are going to receive. The smallest things bring them comfort and make them feel closer to home.”
The Stellar Foundation shipped hundreds of pounds of food and toiletries to Davis and her colleagues at Camp Taji. The items included energy drinks and snacks, protein bars, drink mixes, shampoos, lotions, shaving creams, and more.
In addition, the Stellar Foundation sent the 785th Medical Company a Panasonic video camera and a Mitsubishi ultra-portable video projection unit. Davis works at Camp Taji as a counselor helping troops in the field deal with combat stress. The camera and projector will be used for important presentations on stress management.
“We are delighted to support Joy’s daughter and all of the troops stationed at Camp Taji,” said Ali Korman, Executive Director of the Stellar Foundation. “These young men and women are in a difficult, stressful situation, and it’s very gratifying to know that our donation will bring smiles to their faces.”
Designed to formalize Stellar’s community support program, the Stellar Foundation assists civic and community service programs that encourage volunteerism and enhance the effectiveness of the non-profit sector, address community needs, promote leadership, and support diversity in the workforce and society.
About Stellar
Stellar is a fully integrated firm focused on design, engineering, construction and mechanical services worldwide. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., Stellar has extensive successful project experience in the food, commercial, office, automotive, educational, healthcare, institutional, hospitality and industrial markets. The company employs approximately 1,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.stellar.net.