Monthly President’s Letter: March 2024
Dear Community Members and Builders,
We lived in our WE SHARE value this month by preparing for the TRF Camp Build application deadline (March 31st) to ensure we EXCEL as we INNOVATE workforce development by building and empowering the next generation of builders.
This month, we demonstrated that WE CARE by delivering our emergency grants to Children’s Advocacy Center for North Texas ($2,500 for emergency repairs to their HVAC system so they could resume safe and welcoming client visits) and NAMI Prince William ($5,000 to assist the local community in navigating trauma)—thank you to Communications Committee members Alec Overn and Violet Carter for visiting with our grantees and listening.
We continue to SHARE through TRF roadshows, highlighting our accomplishments in 2023 and plans for 2024 and beyond. I want to acknowledge and thank the Safety Team for laminating and posting TRF’s customized tri-folds at job sites and our communications committee for disbursing them to the offices.
TRF Camp Build is also on its way to a successful second year. Thank you to all of our Camp volunteers and to the volunteers from Sterling, VA, and Anaheim, CA, who have stepped up to lead our future weeklong camp expansions in those local areas for 2025. Throughout March, I visited media outlets in different areas to promote TRF Camp Build to local communities. If you missed the coverage, visit TRF’s YouTube channel or website to watch the coverage. (therosendinfoundation.org/news-press/) If you want to join TRF Camp Build’s planning committees, please contact Hope, TRF Operations Manager.
Also in March, during Women in Construction Week (WIC), I spoke to Rosendin’s TTX Data Center team and shared my journey in construction with a focus on the WIC Week theme “Keys to the Future.” At the AGC Annual Convention, I had the opportunity to share how TRF incorporates the Culture of Care into our work, including inclusion in our coloring books and how our campers take the Culture of Care pledge at TRF Camp Build.
Are you curious about how TRF awards grants to nonprofit organizations? I had the opportunity to SHARE about TRF’s staff and Grant Making Committee’s fantastic work regarding our grants process and the thoughtful and deliberate approach TRF’s Board took with grant making on the Nonprofit MBA Podcast. Listen to the interview on your favorite podcast station or their website.
We EXCELLED in March, securing our second Annual Sponsor, Stanley Black & Decker/DEWALT! In addition to helping us teach campers in our weeklong program and providing tools, they will support our work annually with a $50,000 donation. We are THANKFUL to the DEWALT team for believing in us!
TRF Camp Build continues to be first and foremost at top of mind. The application deadline is Sunday, March 31st, and we will continue to accept applications until the end of the day. If you know Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Southern California middle schoolers, please encourage them to apply for TRF Camp Build. Campers and guardians will receive notice of acceptance or waitlist status by mid-April. If you know of any companies or associations interested in sponsoring our Camp, please encourage them to become a sponsor.
Thank you to all our confirmed sponsors! You are a big part of making TRF Camp Build a success. With our patrons (Rosendin and MPS) and sponsors, we are able to expand and grow this no-cost-to-attendees program nationally.
In Community,
Jolsna Thomas
President
We would like to clarify that the tickets to Stephen Mills’ Poe were donated for staff use.