Whoever said it’s better to give than to receive knew what they were talking about! For a second straight holiday season, Taylor Morrison made it easier than ever for employees to give back to their local community and the results will warm your heart.
We call it the Build Joy campaign and we’re happy to share ten real stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to bring happiness to the lives of others.
The way the movement worked was simple:
- Over 100 Taylor Morrison team members submitted their vision to #BuildJoy in their community.
- We chose ten of our favorites and gave each project a thousand dollars to get the job done.
- Together, with the help of coworkers, each employee stretched their funds to the max to #BuildJoy and make the world a brighter place for the holidays.
Helping the Homeless in Dallas, TX
It’s hard to imagine a more difficult situation to overcome than to be homeless and living on the streets. Olivia Mayes of our Dallas division wanted to show love and kindness to the people living in a local homeless camp by putting together a care package of winter essentials and food.
She believes this small offering of love will do more than simply ease their suffering. Kindness leads to hope.
Bay Area Home Makeover
Together with Rooms of Hope, Tori DeSimone of our Bay Area new homes division helped bring cheer into the life of a young woman fighting cancer. Just 17 years old and not yet finished with high school, Lily received a beautiful bedroom makeover.
Lily’s mother was so moved by the gesture that she plans to volunteer with Rooms of Hope to lift the spirits of others battling illness once Lily has completed her treatment.
Working to Avoid Tragedy
Elaine Hall of Taylor Morrison Atlanta saw an opportunity to help with a local organization that helps men to break alcohol & drug dependency. She used her $1,000 to purchase winter clothes and games for the men in recovery in the No Longer Bound program.
Help for Heroes
Not every veteran comes home ready to plug into a new civilian life – and for veterans who remain hospitalized over the holidays, it can be a difficult time.
Denise Schneider saw an opportunity to bring joy to the face of vets in the hospital. Along with friends from the Raleigh Division, she delivered 200 gifts to smiling veterans.
The Sweetest of Dreams
As a mother of four children, Denise Swamy from our Sacramento Division couldn’t imagine how challenging it would be to make your way through childhood with a life-threatening disease.
With the help of Taylor Morrison’s generous donation and the talented Sweet Dreams Organization, a brave young boy named James now enjoys the space-themed bedroom of his dreams.
A Safe Place to Launch a New Beginning
Domestic violence can tear families apart and leave women and children with nowhere to go. For more than 35 years, Mary & Martha House in Tampa, Florida has been providing shelter for these families so that they can avoid homelessness and find a fresh start.
Tracy Briones noticed that something was missing from the domestic violence shelter. They were doing incredible work but the kids had nowhere to play. With the help of 10 volunteers, a large playground set was assembled to bring joy to mothers and children who are trying to climb up from a tough point in their life.
Little Gifts Can Make a Big Impact
Krystle and Carlos are a husband and wife team who both work for Taylor Morrison. Every year, with their own money, they put together personal care kits for the homeless with personal hygiene products, food and clothes to keep warm.
This year, their holiday gift list got a whole lot longer with an extra $1,000 to spend!
120 care kits were given out to the Orlando area homeless community and those in need expressed gratitude for not being forgotten during the holiday season.
For Children at Risk
Nadia Edwards of Taylor Morrison Corporate believes that every child deserves to be nurtured. Fill a child with love and the child will grow into a compassionate adult.
She used her $1,000 to assist the ChildHelp emergency placement center to make children more comfortable between the time they are removed from a dangerous situation and transitioning into foster care.
The Ultimate Appreciation
Michael Carroll will always have a soft spot in his heart for children fighting cancer. His own son battled the disease at just 1 year old and he owes a debt of gratitude to the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.
To give back, he arranged to donate unwrapped gifts to be given to patients at the very same hospital that saved his son’s life.
More than Just an Apple on Their Desk
Chad Eby got a great idea from his daughter, a student at Tarwater Elementary in Chandler, AZ.
Given that teachers give so much and spend so much of their own money on teaching supplies, why not return the favor and do something special to show our appreciation for everything they do?
Chad and his daughter set up a comfortable space for teachers to meet, collaborate and relax.
Part of Something Meaningful
The #BuildJoy campaign is a fantastic example of why we’re ranked as a top place to work in America. Our employees come to work and feel like they’re making a difference every day .
It’s a company culture that comes from the top down.
Chairman and CEO Sheryl Palmer puts it best, “We believe that when employees feel like they’re part of something meaningful, they’re more likely to love what they do.”
Meet the Joy Givers
Read more about the #BuildJoy campaign. Hear from the participants and discover why they were moved to get involved.
Then, head to one of our social media channels to share your story of building joy in your community, using the hashtag #BuildJoy:
A Better Kind of Home Buying Experience
Making a difference in the communities where we build starts with making a difference in the lives of the people who buy our homes. Learn more about the unique customer experience that sets Taylor Morrison apart from other home builders.
