Winter 2007
Cavan employees remain diligent in collecting needed personal care items
for our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. This holiday season was no
exception. Cavan employees joined efforts with an organization called
Packages from Home which collects supplies and gifts and assembles the
packages which are then mailed to the troops.
Several of the employees, along with Karen Cavan, were able to take a
tour of the Packages from Home facility in downtown Phoenix. It was
quite an impressive sight to see the bins and shelves full of toiletries
and food items that were being packed and sent out daily by the
volunteers. It was just like Santa's workshop. Cavan employees were also
helpful in collecting money to help with postage expenses as this
organization is dependant on donations for the mailing costs. If you
would like further information on this worthwhile organization you can
check out their website at www.packagesfromhome.org.
Fall 2007
This past October, Cavan employees had the opportunity to mix some fun
along with a good cause. Seven bowling teams were formed to compete in
winning the big prize - a check for $500.00 for their favorite charity.
This year's high scoring game was bowled by the Cavan Contenders, a team
lead by Chris Inghram (who also claimed high score by an individual).
His teammates included Mike Despriet, Becky Eng, Luigi Benvin and Tom
Wilder. The $500.00 prized was awarded to Habitat for Humanity, the
charity of their choice. It was fun day overall and everyone went home a
winner.
Summer 2007
 Temperatures in the Phoenix area are some of the hottest in the country during the summer months. The intense heat requires people to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, creating a serious challenge for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to meet the needs of the thousands of homeless and working poor in the Metro Phoenix area.
 Recognizing that challenge, the employees of Cavan Real Estate Investments helped to ease the burden. Over the course of two weeks, Cavan employees gave a total of $500.00 to purchase 100 cases of bottled water for donation to St. Vincent de Paul, which provided 3,500 bottles of water that the Society made available for immediate distribution to those who need it most.
Cavan employees continue to be involved in St. Vincent de Paul efforts to provide meals to homeless and working poor individuals. On the second Friday of alternating months, a group of volunteers serve breakfast at St. Vincent de Paul's newest service facility located at 1075 W. Jackson Street in Phoenix. This facility serves breakfast to approximately 300 individuals every morning of the week.
Winter 2006
 When new Cavan employee Cindy Johnson shared with co-workers that her husband is serving his third term in the U.S. Military in Afghanistan, it didn’t take long for staffers to set about doing what they could to help Gunnery Sergeant Edwin Johnson and his fellow Marines feel a touch of home in their far-away post.
Gifts were purchased by employees and collected at the Cavan offices, where “packing parties” were held to organize and address 22 packages to the Marines of the 25th Signal Battalion. In the packages were hard-to-get snacks, toiletries, clothing items, books, games and other treats—all intended to brighten the days of the men and women whose job it is to protect the American Embassy in the Green Zone in Kabul, Afghanistan.
With the help of the U.S. Postal Service (in the form of our receptionist’s hard-working husband), the boxes were shipped in time for Thanksgiving, and by wonderful coincidence arrived at Camp Eggers one day before the celebration of the 231st birthday of the Marine Corps.
 Emotions ran high the morning that Edwin surprised Cavan staff during a company meeting when he presented the gathering with an American flag that flew over Camp Eggers and two medals honoring Cavan’s support of the troops. He described the setting in which the Marines live day-to-day, telling of encounters with IEDs so frequent that they’ve become “routine,” and recalling the thwarting of an Embassy attack by a suicide bomber dressed as a woman, his words creating mental pictures that come only from someone who’s been there.
Following his brief leave, Edwin returned to Kabul, and has since been deployed to Kuwait. We send our hopes and prayers that he and his comrades will all come home safe and soon. |
