Kitchell believes in giving back to the communities it serves. Each year, the list of volunteer projects increases to include more organizations and greater involvement by Kitchell employees. The following represents highlights from recent years.

United Way Campaign

Kitchell has supported the United Way for several years. The campaign is an important opportunity for Kitchell to give back to the communities that have contributed to its success. In 2007, Kitchell pledged $176,000 to the campaign.

Teach for America

Kitchell and its employees have sponsored Teach for America teachers, programs and a successful holiday book drive. Kitchell was a major underwriter of the 2008 Celebration Dinner, proceeds of which will field a corps of 400 teachers serving 32,000 students in low-income Phoenix schools.

Ryan House

Kitchell joined other founding partners to help create a safe, comfortable place where Arizona children with life-limiting conditions can receive safe, comfortable short-term care from an experienced professional staff. The center will also provide respite and resources for families of these children.

Desert Mission Food Bank

Kitchell has been involved in the Desert Mission Food Bank program since December 2004. In 2007 Kitchell employees collected a record 41,509 pounds of food and monetary donations and volunteered more than 230 hours at the Food Bank.

Rebuilding Together (Arizona and Oakland)

Kitchell has contributed staff time and expertise to this program since 1990, helping to rebuild and remodel homes to create clean, safe, dry housing. In 2008, Kitchell volunteers managed 18 homes that needed repairs. In Oakland, Kitchell staff, their families and friends helped to rebuild the Matilda Cleveland Transitional Housing project and create a healing garden for the women and children of the center.

Foundation for Blind Children

Kitchell employees helped with landscaping efforts and signage for an expansion of the organization’s home in Phoenix. The project team donated materials and labor, representing an in-kind donation of nearly $20,000.

UMOM New Day Center

In June 2007, the UMOM New Day Center in Phoenix closed on a new property located directly across the street from its current location that expands the center’s mission to “break the cycle of homelessness.” Kitchell Custom Homes and Kitchell Development assisted UMOM with the due diligence, purchase and financing of its new facility, which will provide housing for an additional 60 families, bringing the total number of families served to 156. UMOM currently serves more than 350 people a day, more than half of whom are children.