A TON OF HEART: CONTRACTORS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ON CONSTRUCTION SITE
Construction workers to donate 2,000 pounds of household items to local families

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (May 11, 2009) – In a show of support for families that have fallen on hard times, contractors on the Van Andel Institute – Phase II construction site have set a goal to collect a ton (2,000 pounds) of household items, for WOOD TV 8’s “Christmas in May” program. 

Contractors will be collecting the donations on Level 1 of the Van Andel Institute expansion project from May 11^th – May 20^th.  In keeping with the spirit of the “Christmas in May” program items that will be collected include: toilet paper, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, bar soap, laundry detergent and diapers.

The construction manager, Hunt/Owen-Ames-Kimball, and owner’s representative Culhane & Fahrenkrug, will officially weigh and measure the donations at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 20^th at 333 Bostwick Ave N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.  Following the weighing ceremony, Hunt/Owen-Ames-Kimball will transport the donations to a local area Spartan store to be distributed to West Michigan families in need.

“We have a responsibility to support our neighbors,” says Hunt/Owen-Ames-Kimball Project Superintendent Keith Schoonveld.  Schoonveld, who manages over 220 construction workers on the job site, got the urge to do something positive after seeing advertisements for WOOD TV 8’s “Christmas in May” program. 

The donation effort, now called “A Ton of Heart,” will begin accepting collections from its 220 workers on site May 11^th.  The Van Andel Institute has opened its project for storage and sorting of the donations.

“Van Andel Institute proudly supports our Phase II Construction Team in their effort to raise a ton of household goods as part of WOOD TV 8 Christmas in May.  Their generosity is a deeply rooted value within the West Michigan Construction Community and one embraced by the Institute and all of our employees,” says Joe Gavan, Vice President of Communications and Development for the Van Andel Institute.

ABOUT THE EVENT

WHO: Hunt/Owen-Ames-Kimball (Construction Manager), Culhane & Fahrenkrug (Owner’s Representative) and list of attached subcontractor companies

WHAT: Weighing Ceremony & Donation of one ton (2,000 pounds) of household items to local families in need

WHEN: Wednesday, May 20th from 10-10:30am

WHERE: Van Andel Institute – Phase II Expansion

333 Bostwick Ave, N.E.

Room 1027 on Level 1

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

ABOUT Hunt/O-A-K

Hunt / Owen-Ames-Kimball, A Joint Venture, is providing construction management services to the project. Hunt, headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, provides national experience, and Grand Rapids-based Owen-Ames-Kimball provides local expertise.

ABOUT Culhane & Fahrenkrug Consulting, LLC

Culhane & Fahrenkrug Consulting, LLC are providing comprehensive oversight, as the Owner’s representative for every aspect of Van Andel Institute Phase II expansion.

Hunt Construction Group, Inc. web site: http://www.huntconstructiongroup.com

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. web site: http://www.owen-ames-kimball.com

VAI Phase II Project Facts web site: http://www.vai.org/Home/About/Facilities/PhaseII.aspx

Media Contact:  Lindsay Anes, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (616) 456-1521