The rattle of a shaking spray paint can cut through the crisp air on a cold February morning in Henderson, Nevada, just miles from the famous Las Vegas Strip. Holding the can wasn’t a graffiti artist looking over his shoulder for police; instead, it was an ADT employee, hoping his work will help those first responders find a street address faster, should the need arise.
“C’mon Banksy,” joked Justin Ayers, ADT Team Manager, Sales and Installation, to his colleague, Nick Avalon, ADT Solutions Advisor, as he shot paint onto the taped-off curb.
Ayers and Avalon were part of a crew of ADT employees volunteering their time to paint house numbers on the curb along Ash Street in Henderson’s Valley View neighborhood. The project was part of Kickoff to Rebuild, an annual volunteer event held in the host city of the NFL championship game. ADT was a proud sponsor of the event again this year, which was organized by the Southern Nevada chapter of Rebuilding Together.
“When first responders are able to easily identify a home, they’re able to provide emergency services quickly, when every second counts,” said Darienne Page, ADT’s Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility.
Volunteers from ADT also helped prune trees and landscape front yards in the neighborhood. Bob Cleveland, CEO of Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada, said the recipients can really use the help. “Most of our clients are seniors, disabled or veterans, and they are all low income,” he said. “These homeowners have work that needs to be done that they can’t afford.”
The work done by Rebuilding Together and its corporate partners helps keep people in their homes, Cleveland said, allowing the properties to be passed down to future generations. It also aims to prevent the homes from being torn down by developers, which helps maintain affordable housing and keeps waste out of landfills.
Homeowner Amber Gerleman noticed an immediate effect thanks to the improvements happening in the neighborhood. “I’ve lived here for almost 15 years and just making the community look better makes you feel prideful yourself when you look around,” she said.
For ADT employees, it was an opportunity to connect with potential customers and feel good about making a difference in their community. Ayers said he looks forward to volunteer events to spend time with his co-workers outside the office, and enjoys the impact they can have. “What better way than the days before the big game for us to come out here, give back, beautify the neighborhood and create that partnership with the people who live in our community?” Ayers said.
ADT’s sponsorship of Kickoff to Rebuild is part of the ADT Safe Places initiative, aimed at helping to make communities safer, smarter and more sustainable. Click here to learn more about ADT’s Safe Places partnerships and our community impact.