The holidays are all about giving back, and it’s fitting that one of Tampa Bay’s biggest local companies is also one of the area’s biggest givers this year. Power Design, Inc., the design-build contractor headquartered in St. Pete, just donated more than 1,000 toys to local families in need this holiday season through their company toy drive.
All 1,000-plus toys were delivered to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital on Monday so that they could be part of the hospital’s annual All Kids’ Wonderland, which helps make Christmas special for hundreds of families in the area. The annual event provides a free “shopping” experience for parents and caregivers of young patients who are hospitalized, allowing them to choose donated toys (everything from stuffed animals to dolls to electronics to skateboards) for their little loved ones.
To make the yearly toy drive successful, Power Design ties the charitable giving to its annual holiday bash, Winterfest. The holiday event is Power Design’s biggest party of the year for employees (everything from bounce houses and rock climbing to bumper cars and real snow), and there are no tickets required. Instead, Power Design employees and their accompanying families are just asked to bring a toy for the All Kids’ Wonderland toy drive. From dolls and board games to bicycles and Tonka trucks, they more than delivered this year.
Winterfest is Power Design’s party of the year
As St. Pete’s largest private employer, it’s no surprise that the huge gathering of employees and families managed to bring together more than 1,000 toys for kids. It’s also no surprise that Power Design threw such a big party, as always with a charitable twist. The company has regularly been rated as one of the best workplaces in America, and perhaps no evidence makes it more obvious why than the annual holiday party.
Dubbed Winterfest, it’s the kind of event you might see an entire city park shut down for. This year’s theme was Gingerbread Village, and it was truly a full village’s worth (and more) of experiences and family-friendly fun.
With employees and their families filling the area, the Power Design campus was transformed into a full holiday festival. There were ball pits, face painting and gingerbread cookie decorating. There was an entire outdoor theater, bounce houses and trampolines, bumper cars, rock climbing, and a snow playing area with real snow. There was even a candy cane-lined White Carpet welcoming each guest.
Meanwhile, adults enjoyed the Peppermint Parlor, a pop-up speakeasy with cocktails, darts, caricature artists, pool, and even a beer pong tournament. Knowing Power Design’s work ethic, that tournament got plenty competitive.
The biggest highlight – especially for one long-time employee – was Power Design’s car giveaway. Employees who have been with the company longer than 10 years were entered into a giveaway for a new car. The winner, Project Executive Kodi Klotz, just hit the 10 year mark in October. As the winner, he made a stylish choice for the car Power Design gave him: a 1969 orange Chevy Camaro. Well done, Kodi.
Power Design sets an industry standard
As for the work of the company itself, Power Design has grown into something of a one-stop shop for construction developers. Their engineering and design-build expertise has made them one of the go-to companies across the country.
Specifically, they focus on electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and systems technologies buildout for construction projects. By specializing in so many different areas (a rarity in the field), Power Design helps streamline construction processes by doing the work of what typically requires multiple contractors.
Photo courtesy Power Design, Inc.
Of course, while it’s their professional services that make them important to their clients and partners, it’s Power Design’s role in the community that makes it special to St. Pete. It’s a rarity in so many of Florida’s growing cities to have such a large company not only headquartered locally, but founded there. Power Design is entrenched as an economic driver for the individuals and families who actually live in St. Pete and the surrounding areas.
Learn more about Power Design, and look for careers at St. Pete’s largest private employer, at powerdesigninc.us.