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Goodfellows Fund: Building holiday goodwill for the children
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They call themselves "the voice of construction in Western Pennsylvania," but for one night this week what they will build is holiday goodwill.
The Master Builders' Association will host its sixth annual toy drive at the Young Constructors Holiday Party at the Hard Rock Cafe at Station Square on Wednesday, and to get in, members must donate a toy to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.
Communications director Jon O'Brien said in the past five years the event has brought in 1,500 toys and $35,000 in donations. The money goes to a different charity each year, with this season's beneficiary the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Three hundred attendees are expected, and others who cannot make the event will donate toys anyway.
"The event is great for uniting all ages and stakeholders from the industry. We have CEOs of the largest companies enjoying the evening with laborers just entering the workforce," Mr. O'Brien said.
Two construction executives will be part of a rock band performing that night, he said. Jendoco Construction Corp. president Dwight Kuhn will play bass guitar, and executive vice president Michael Kuhn, his son, will be lead singer for the band The Johnny Bravos.
Hundreds of organizations and volunteers are part of what makes the Toys for Tots program successful. Readers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette are another big contributor to an effort that helped 30,000 needy kids experience the joy of Christmas last year.
The Post-Gazette's Goodfellows Fund began in 1947 with a goal of seeing to it that no child awoke on Christmas morning without toys under the tree. Since 1999, Goodfellows has teamed with Toys for Tots.
You can join this worthy endeavor. Make a tax-deductible donation to Goodfellows by using the coupon on this page, or online by visiting www.post-gazette.com/goodfellows.
Every donation will be acknowledged in the newspaper.
The Toys for Tots program will hold open houses this week to distribute toys to parents and guardians of needy children.
They will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Guardian Storage Solutions, 2839 Liberty Ave., Strip District. Parents and guardians should bring a photo ID for themselves, a birth certificate for each child (children up to age 12 are eligible) and proof of need -- welfare check stub, food stamp card or other proof of government assistance.
Today's total: $5,149.57
Grand total: $36,417.02
Anonymous $500
R. Kent Galey family $500
In memory of Fred, Eldora and John Henry Threlfall $300
Dr.& Mrs. Charles Kremser$250
Anonymous $200
Pamela Weiss $150
In memory of James "Pop" Woods $100
Baldasare family $100
Sharon & Ken Brown $100
Jeff & Lee Ann Steimer $100
Radcliffe family $100
Anonymous $100
In memory of Rob Finley $100
Tom & Linda Morris $100
Jeffrey S. Brooks $100
Shadyside Inn Suites $100
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Parkinson$100
Thomas & Nancy Bour $100
Anonymous $100
Mark & Lynee Phelps $100
K. Marlene Smith $100
Wayne M. Swift $100
Judith Pecoraro $80
The Bruns family $75
Anonymous $50
Anonymous $50
In loving memory of Susan Pearson Edwards $50
Anonymous $50
Debra Flinner $50
John & Deb Thompson $50
Ms. Auberta C. Parke $50
Nap Schrenker family $50
Arlene Timmons $50
In memory of Uncle Zip-A-De-Doo-Dah from Hilary Lopata $50
Lauren & Chris Pearlman $50
R. H. Leuenberger $50
George Bradley $50
Dorothy Meyer $50
In honor of Brooks family $50
Anonymous $50
Claire Emery $50
In memory of Lois Bauer Voigt $40
Missy Zimmerman $35
Doris Greene $30
Charles Perfetti $25
Anonymous $25
John Brady $25
Tom Valenza $25
Nick Verrenti $25
Ken Brandy family $25
In memory of Corinne Kehl$25
Anonymous $25
Patty Tofil $25
Win Palmer $25
John W. Chapas $25
Angela Ferris $25
Thomas P. Walsh $25
Joyce Frost $20
Thelma M. Kerr $20
Anonymous $20
A friend from Friendship Village $20
Eileen Louis $20
Anna-Marie Mostyn $19.57
Pam & Jack Hernon $15
William Premro $10
Iris A. Hurka $10
Anne Marie Wiley $10
Marian Thompson $10
Marie Murphy $10
Pauline Balchus $10
Edward J. Heide $10
Marge Crawford $10
First Published December 10, 2012 12:15 am
