Hacienda Helping Hands Campaign in Full Swing

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Hacienda Helping Hands is a tangible expression of Hacienda's long-time commitment to community involvement. Launched last year, the charitable community benefit campaign is supported by contributions from park companies and investors, who have responded warmly with both budget line items and creative approaches to fund-raising. Each fall, proceeds of the annual campaign will be used to make grants to Tri-Valley health and human service organizations, educational programs, and cultural projects.

Many local businesses and organizations are devising novel ways to participate in the campaign. For example, the Leadership Pleasanton Class of '09, sponsored by the city and the Chamber of Commerce, donated proceeds from the recent Mardi Gras Bash celebration at the Fairgrounds to Hacienda Helping Hands.

Hyatt Summerfield Suites has also stepped forward with an event that puts the fun in fund-raising. In addition to its corporate donation to Hacienda Helping Hands, the hotel is spearheading an engaging, park-wide event to benefit the campaign. Its summer hotel barbecue season kicks off at the end of May with a "Touch of Summer" barbecue dinner and a head-to-head corporate barbecue cook-off, complete with a "Top Chef" style panel of judges. All proceeds will go to Hacienda Helping Hands. "Hyatt is excited about creating a signature event to benefit the Hacienda Helping Hands campaign," says Jon Burchett, Director of Sales. "We challenge all Hacienda companies to give back to the community by donating to Hacienda Helping Hands and by getting out their barbecue mitts and fielding their best team for the 'Touch of Summer' corporate barbeque cook-off."

"It's exciting to see companies catching the spirit of Hacienda Helping Hands," observes Hacienda General Manager James Paxson. "The park's vision for the Hacienda Helping Hands campaign is to create a sustainable charitable funding stream for community projects and for nonprofit organizations doing vital work in our community."

Companies like Roche Molecular Systems, Shaklee Corporation, Kaiser Permanente, CPU Tech, and a host of others have already designated a portion of their corporate social responsibility budgets for the Hacienda Helping Hands campaign. "It makes good sense for companies operating in Pleasanton to make a social investment in our local communities. This is where our employees live and work, and giving back to the community helps make this a better place for all of us and our families," comments SafeAmerica Credit Union's Robin Hauan, Vice President of Marketing. "We encourage all Hacienda companies to make room in their budgets for participating in the annual Hacienda Helping Hands campaign."

Hacienda Business Park has partnered with a park tenant - the Tri-Valley Community Foundation - to administer the annual campaign and the Hacienda Helping Hands grants program. "The foundation stays on top of emerging and critical needs in the community - among our youth, families, our veterans, the frail elderly, those hardest hit by the current economic climate - and we stay on top of the capacity of community organizations to meet those needs," says President, David Rice. "There are terrific programs in our community that collaborate with the foundation and with local governments and schools to provide gang violence prevention services, assisted-living support for seniors, family counseling, food and medical care for working-poor families, and 'stay-in-school' programs that help at-risk high school students graduate and transition to college. With strong participation by Hacienda companies, the Hacienda Helping Hands campaign will make a considerable impact on keeping these community programs available and strong."

To donate online, or for more information about Hacienda Helping Hands, visit the campaign website - HelpingHands.Hacienda.org - or call the Hacienda Helping Hands information line at (925) 734-5673.

Photo: Contributors to the Hacienda Helping Hands Campaign include these park companies and others.

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