“I felt blessed and humbled to help prepare these meals.  Seeing the before and after pictures of the children all over the world that received the meals was amazing.  I never knew how good it could feel to help,” said APX representative, Jennifer Brezniak.

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) was founded as a Christian nonprofit in 1987 through the efforts of a Minnesota businessman who felt a calling to help feed the starving children of the world during a humanitarian visit to Honduras. He returned to the Twin Cities (Minnesota) to develop a method of large-scale relief.

In 1989, FMSC connected with food scientists from Cargill and General Mills to develop a nutritional product especially for FMSC to feed starving children. This food product included rice, soy, vegetables, a vegetarian-based chicken flavoring, and a vitamin and mineral mix. Food scientists continue to update the formula.

“I loved seeing the smiles on the faces of the little kids. They were so glad to just have someone to play with,” said APX Alarm Representative, Roger Evershed.

St. John’s mission is to support homeless women with children to advance from a point of crisis to a position of self-sufficiency.  St. John’s Shelter program for women and children is the only shelter program in Sacramento County focused exclusively on women with children.

Since 1985, the program has provided a safe and supportive haven to more than 25,000 displaced women and children

“In the distance I heard children screaming ‘LEGO!!!!, and I knew the day had begun,” said Mike Barnes, APX Head Tech.

No surprise, the big hit with the children (and maybe our own reps) were the Pro Lego builders used for constructing the “farm” and blue tower as a Saskatchewan grain silo.  The festival experience focuses on cultural diversity, storytelling and environmental activities. The festival also included puppetry, dance theatre, circus arts and music.

“It was really nice to be able to work together as a team while serving the community,” said APX Alarm Houston Sales Manager, Matt Stevenson. “It reminded us what we’re doing in Houston for the summer: trying to protect families and secure their futures.”

His Place Child Center is an early childhood program located in Houston’s East End that started in 1991.  In 2002, the center was selected as one of the original 13 charter centers to participate in the United Way Bright Beginnings Initiative, a program to improve the quality of care for children.

In 2005, they became a nationally accredited center; less than 10% of the centers in the nation are nationally accredited.  One of their priorities is to serve children who are economically and/or educationally disadvantaged.  For the last few years, they have partnered to offer Public Pre-K to those children. 

Over the years, the school has exhibited a proven track record of success for children and has received media coverage in the newspapers as well as television.  Our greatest reward is making a difference in the lives of children.  His Place Child Center is thankful for the help they have received that allows them to empower children for success at school, at home, and in our communities.The painting was done by APX helped to provide an inviting, clean, attractive environment for the children they serve.

The APX Calgary sales team were given the responsibility of placing the luminaries (bags with candles inside) on a hill spelling out the word HOPE for participants of the race.
Luminaries are special candles that are placed in bags and carry the names of cancer survivors and loved ones lost. In a moving ceremony after sunset, luminaries placed around the track are lit In Honour of cancer survivors and In memory of those who have lost the battle against cancer.

“Everyone loved the creativity of the guys and totally appreciated our help,” said APX Calgary SM, Ryan Anderson. “The reps and our technicians had a lot of fun together and enjoyed the experience.”

The run sponsored by APX Alarm was a huge success, having raised more than $17,000 and nearly 900 participated.  Many of the participants ran in honor of children and family members that they have lost in the past.  Several of those who participated were from APX Alarm, wearing shirts in honor of Jack Austin Brenchley, to show their support for Shawn Brenchley and his family.

A friend of mine emailed me several weeks earlier inquiring about donations for a school in the Congo that is in desperate need of monetary support, primarily for a few computers. He described the school and students as follows:

The school is an L-shaped building with open windows and doors.  It houses K thru 12th grade students, and is on supplemental electricity from the government so there are times when it’s run by generator.

The students are very proud of what they have in terms of school necessities and live for learning.  The school currently has one extremely old computer for all of them.

When I assured him APX could help in some fashion, he invited me over to deliver the computers to the school personally.  After weeks of Visa approval and malaria shots I was on my way.

It was a trip I won’t soon forget. We are blessed abundantly as Americans, and are even more blessed that we can be a part of helping those with needs.

Kurt Hale

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake have provided life-enriching services and opportunities to young people for over 36 years.  Their programs and core services reach nearly 9,000 youth members between the ages of 6-18 every year.

The mission of the Boys and Girls Club is to inspire and enable the youth in our communities, especially those who need them the most, by becoming caring and responsible individuals through guidance-oriented adult relationships and engagement in a variety of enriching activities within a safe environment.

Programs also included after-school programs addressing educational achievement, career exploration, drug and alcohol avoidance, health and fitness, gang and violence prevention, cultural exploration, leadership development and community service.

Community Action Services and Food Bank is dedicated to building self-reliance in families, individuals and communities throughout Utah, Summit and Wasatch Counties.  The agency operates the food bank that serves these counties, along with six satellite locations.  The organization works with families to meet emergency needs such as food, housing, and utilities and provides long-term support.

Since 2007, the number of families requesting assistance has doubled.  In addition to operating the food bank that services Utah, Summit and Wasatch Counties, Community Action Services and the Food Bank runs five other programs with the goal of building self-reliance in the community.

The organization also provides education resources and advocacy to empower communities through knowledge about poverty, financial wellness and other important issues.

APX Alarm has been a corporate partner with Sunset View Elementary since 2009 but this fundraiser provided an opportunity to assists kids in need throughout the entire school district.  With restricted or dwindling budget funding, many of the programs would have to be curtailed or discontinued without corporate or private financing.  The funds raised from the auction will be used towards purchasing school materials including; art supplies, homework help, choir and ballroom dance classes.  A number of schools in the district provide specialty classes, such as iMovie, science and sewing training.  After school programs are especially helpful since they provide young students a place to go for additional educational programs in a safe and positive atmosphere.                                                               

Some of the top baskets auctioned off included an autographed jersey from a member of the Utah Jazz, trip to Mexico, a private football camp with BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall and many other generous corporate gifts.  The school district wishes to thank APX Alarm for their continued support.

The APX Alarm Conference Center provided the perfect venue for the dance awards ceremony emceed by Amanda Dickson of KSL Radio.  APX Alarm donated the $1,750 in prize money and hosted the event in their new corporate HQ facility.  The event turned out to be a huge success with the Utah Prader-Willi Syndrome Association able to raise over $19,000 to help Utah families struggling with members of their family who suffer from this genetic disorder. 

The funds will help send all the children to camp Kostopulos this summer and help run the medical clinic for the children and provide training for their parents. 

Lisa Thornton, president of the Utah Prader-Willi Association said, “We couldn’t have held the event without the generosity and support of APX.  APX Alarm lives up to its mission to protect families and generously provide assistance to help those in need in Utah.  Thank you!”

The mission of the Utah Prader-Willi Syndrome Association is to provide families and professionals with a network of support, resources and information, to promote awareness of the syndrome and raise funds that will directly benefit Utahn’s with PWS.  In addition, the association facilitates opportunities to congregate pro-active individuals who can pool talents, resources, ingenuity and vision to produce more options, increase quality of life, and create a brighter future for individuals with PWS.”

If you wish to view the winning dance entries, you can do so at www.upwsa.org/dance<http://www.upwsa.org/dance>.

To kick off the incentive program, students visited with APX Alarm senior executives and toured the new facility including the dining room and conference center.  APX Alarm is offering to reward students a field trip once a month to visit corporate headquarters, eat a snack, play games in the gym and work on their homework in the 3^rd floor library.

Josh Houser asked the kids if anyone had ever told them they were not good enough or they could not pursue their goals because of who they are.  Sadly, nearly all the kids raised their hands.  Josh then enthusiastically shared his belief that all things are possible and the importance of doing well in school.

Last fall, APX Alarm donated $10,000 to the elementary school to help provide much needed supplies, books and other teaching materials.  Perhaps even more valuable has been the 60 APX employees who have volunteered their time working as tutors and mentors for many of the children who participate in the after school program.

“Thank you so much.  APX is really helping our students see that they can realize their dreams,” said Sunset View Principal, Anne Marie Harrison.  “Many of them have a mom that works at the local motel cleaning rooms, and this is truly showing them that here, close to their home, they can work for good companies and they can be what they want to be.”

In 2009, Operation Cookie Drop raised more donations than ever and was able to contribute almost 71,000 boxes of cookies.  Since the program started in 2005, more than 221,000 boxes of cookies have been shipped to our military troops stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other bases throughout the world.

“We fail to realize all the things we took for granted back in the states, and yes the Girl Scout cookies were one of those things,” said a soldier with the 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan.  “We received boxes for a company of 120 soldiers and how we fought over our favorite ones of course.  Again, thank you for all your support.”

Those wishing to make individual donations can give monetary donations to a Girl Scout or Girl Scout troop during the annual cookie sale program.  The 2010 sales will end on March 14.  Frequently asked questions can be viewed at http://www.nccoastalpines.org/home/CookiesProducts/Cookies/FAQs.aspx

The 5K run and 1 mile walk will be held at the Now I can Foundation located at 1675 N. Freedom Blvd, Provo, Utah.  Registration costs are $15 per person for the 5K event and $10 per person for the 1 mile walk.

Now I Can is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to helping disabled children reach their full potential and make greater strides towards independence.  They have combined the most effective methods of physical therapy with the most outstanding therapy team – making their therapy unique and sought after by families across the country.

Now I Can welcomes children of any age who want to improve their strength and independence, relieve pain, or recover from injury. 

For additional information, please contact Now I Can at 801-228-1935 or visit their website at www.nowican.org.

In response to Haiti’s desperate need for medical supplies, APX Alarm and the International Aid Serving Kids (IASK) held a “Medical Supply Drive” on January 23 at the new APX Alarm corporate headquarters in Provo.  Local businesses and concerned citizens were encouraged to bring donations where teams of volunteers sorted and prepared the supplies for delivery to Haiti.

IASK is a non-profit organization that specializes in providing medical and dental care to children in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  APX Alarm also made a contribution of $5,000 on Feb. 17 to assist in the ongoing relief efforts.  A day later, organizer Illens Dort, a native of Haiti, led a team of 30 medical and surgical specialists to Leogane, Haiti.

“There has already been an amazing outpouring of support from our employees to get involved, following this unimaginable human tragedy,” says Josh Houser, President of the APX Family Foundation. “The challenges faced in the country will still take a considerable amount of time and resources in the future to help those in need.”

Those who wish to contribute online or learn more about the organization may visit www.liftalife.org.