Current Efforts

National Construction Charity, Roger B. Kennedy Construction & Duffey Southeast Lead Volunteers In Upgrading Give Kids The World Village

AGC Charities Inc.’s Annual Operation Opening Doors Project Involved Contractors from Across the Country who Donated Time, Materials & Money to Build New Fences, Clean Floors and Fix Sidewalks

AGC Charities Inc., Roger B. Kennedy Construction and Duffey Southeast teamed up to lead dozens of volunteers from across the country to replace aging fences, smooth sidewalks, clean floors and make other improvements to Give Kids the World Village today. The volunteer workday at the Kissimmee-based Give Kids the World Village is intended to help improve the experience for families with critically ill children who get to stay free at the village while enjoying access to the area’s amusement parks.

“This is a great opportunity for contractors from around the country to put their skills to use helping make the Give Kids the World experience even more special,” said Lainee Perala, the chair of AGC Charities Inc. “One day of hard work feels like a small sacrifice in exchange for making these families’ visits to Orlando as magical as possible.”

The volunteers divided into teams and spent the day working to replace a bamboo fence that separates the village’s small passenger train from the rest of the facility. They also installed nautical-themed fence netting near the facility’s mini golf course. Other crews smoothed concrete sidewalks to improve accesibilty for visitors in wheelchairs. Another crew of volunteers scrubbed tile grout in some of the guest villas families use while staying at Give Kids the World Village.

All of the work performed by the volunteers was planned and coordinated by Altamonte Springs-based Roger B. Kennedy Construction and Jacksonville, Florida-based Duffey Southeast. Both firms donated significant time and resources preparing for and running the work day. AGC Charities worked to line up donations to support the project.

In addition to the two local firms, over 60 volunteers from construction companies across the country donated their time and skills during today’s volunteer project. United Rentals provided significant funding to support the project, as well as donating the use of equipment and tools. Milwaukee Tool also donated safety gear and other equipment. And Home Depot also donated supplies and tools for the project.

The volunteers who participated in today’s charity project are all members of the Associated General Contractors of America, the national commercial construction trade association. Many of the volunteers arrived early into the area to participate in the project prior to attending the association’s annual convention, which is taking place at the Hyatt Regency Orlando between March 24 and 26.

Funding for the project came from donations by individual members of the Associated General Contractors of America, as well as support from United Rentals. AGC Charities is the charitable arm of the Associated General Contractors of America, the national association for the construction industry.