A.F. Sterling Homes Wins Volunteer Awards

October 25, 2002

Four businesses were acknowledged here yesterday by the brother of the president of the United States for their commitment to volunteerism.

Neil Bush presented the Volunteer Center of Tucson's Spirit of Service award to Southwest Gas Corp. and Awards of Excellence to three smaller businesses: A.F. Sterling Homes, Pioneer Plumbing and Chestnut Construction Corp.

In 1998, Southwest Gas won the national "Points of Light" Excellence in Corporation Community Service Award. "Points of Light" awards were created by Bush's father, George H. Bush, when he was president.

More than a third of all Southwest Gas employees volunteer for the firm's Employee Volunteer Team, created in 1986, which sponsors local projects throughout the year.

At Chestnut Construction Corp., employees and their family members and friends and subcontractors take part in the annual Arizona Builders' Alliance Volunteer Day and participate in walk-a-thons and the Bowling for Big Brothers/Big Sisters yearly event.

Owner Tom Chestnut said his company gives paid time off for these volunteer activities because "it's important not just for companies but for individuals to give back to the community and sometimes many of these needs are between 8 and 5, Monday through Friday, not always after 5 p.m. or on weekends."

Employees at A.F. Sterling Homes take on three volunteer projects each year. This year they included a summer food drive, building a Habitat for Humanity home and a bowl-a-thon.

At Pioneer Plumbing, which has 22 employees, the workers always keep their eyes out for people who need help. This year, the company joined Southwest Gas to restore a home for an elderly mother caring for her terminally ill daughter. Pioneer replaced every water pipe, gas line and sewer line in and around the home.

Neil Bush, who is on the national board of directors of the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network, said actions such as these are examples of what other companies can do to make a community better.

"It is shameful in this county that we allow problems to exist," he told about 300 people at the Doubletree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way. "These problems are not going to go away through legislation," he said, "but by people helping one person at a time."