Company Supports Military Families at Christmas

TBE and TSI employees donated 39 Company special award cards from Wal-Mart, totaling $1,950, to local families of activated military personnel serving overseas during the holidays.

Byron Bonds, one of the coordinators of the company’s Troop Supporter Group, initiated the company-wide voluntary drive, co-assisted by Patty Anderson and Jackie Zarzour.  The effort was coordinated through Dave Carney, Vice President of the National Guard Program for the local AUSA, who oversees the project during the holiday season.

Bonds was a special guest at the event set up by the National Guard to present the certificates to several families and noted that the occasion was touching and so appreciated, “I saw genuine Christmas joy in the faces of the children.  I witnessed tears in the eyes of a couple parents and gratitude in the souls of everyone who got to be a part of this special gift to these citizen soldiers.” 

Bonds expressed a special thanks to the following employees who served as collection points across the company at on-site and off-site locations:  Patty Anderson, Suzanne Knight, Gail Nelson, Jackie Zarzour, Kokila Topiwala, Candy Weaver, Billie Hoelzer, Brian Conway, Aris Tanone, and Gary Cartee.

TSI/TBE Employees Assist Families in Need

Several individual employees and two groups at TBE stepped up to help provide “Santa Claus” gifts and food baskets during the holidays for a family of six and a family that included a 6-year-old boy and his father.

The EADSIM group purchased gift cards and food baskets for both of the families.  The MDSE group bought gift cards and a number of gifts for the family of six.  Coordinating the efforts within the groups were Carrie Crumpler and Dianna O’Dell, respectively.  Other individual employees worked together to buy Christmas gifts for the 6-year-old boy and his father.  This effort was coordinated by Patty Anderson.

Anderson received the following words of thanks from the father of the 6 year old, “We really appreciated the gifts, food, fruit baskets, and gift cards that were given to us at Christmas.  My son loved every present that he received.  It was a delightful day for both of us and one we will never forget.”

The TSI Christmas Angel Project was a huge success this year, using employee donations to provide Christmas for a family with five children, who were selected from the Salvation Army’s Angel tree at the mall.  TSI also bought 18 door prize gifts for a senior citizen luncheon, which was also sponsored through the Salvation Army.

TSI employees once again proved their generosity and kind-heartedness by donating personal cash to purchase gifts and necessities.  In addition, some of the employees played Santa’s helpers and provided toys and clothing themselves.  Jan Bivens, assisted by Diane Rogers and Sue Acuff, coordinated the efforts.

Employees Volunteer for Helpline Gift Wrapping

Nineteen employees and family members volunteered for the HELPline gift-wrapping project held at the two local Huntsville malls during the holiday season.  Volunteers worked several hours at booths set up in the malls to wrap gifts for designated donations.

All money raised went directly to HELPline.  This fundraising activity helps provide essential financial support to the local HELPline 24-hour crisis/abuse services organization.

Volunteers at TBE were coordinated by TBE employee Deanna Bagwell, who has served as TBE’s recruiter for the holiday project for numerous years.

Memoriam Fruit Baskets Delivered by Booster Club

Holidays are particularly difficult following the death of a family member.  To let members of the Teledyne family know that loved ones who have passed away in the last year have not been forgotten, the Teledyne Booster Club sponsors a project to remember the individual in a special way.

If an employee has lost a spouse or child or if an employee passes away during the year, the Club Welfare Fund sponsors the purchase of fruit baskets for the family during the holiday season.

Booster Club Welfare Director Jackie Zarzour coordinates the project and arranges delivery of the baskets to the surviving spouse/parent or family of the deceased employee.  Eleven baskets were delivered this year.