Volunteers partner to paint house at no cost to owner

It almost sounded too good to be true.

Three years ago, a large company in Tempe was calling nonprofits in Maricopa trying to find an organization that wanted a group of its employees to work for free on a one-day project.

When Steve Durkee, who chairs Foundation for a Brighter Tomorrow, got the call from Medtronic, a leading manufacturer of heart pacemakers, he asked “How many do you have?”

The answer was “a little over 30.” Durkee responded, “I’ll find something for them to do.”

Foundation for a Brighter Tomorrow is a nonprofit corporation that brings together partners to assist the underserved in metro Phoenix, Pinal County and outlying areas of Maricopa County.

About once every 18 months, Medtronic gives all its employees a paid day off and encourages them to do volunteer work.

Durkee said the foundation has completed several paint and cleanup projects in the Heritage District, but when you knock on doors and tell people you want to do something for them for free, the reaction can be skepticism.

 So he asked Dr. John Donohue, a chiropractor whose office is in the Heritage District, if he knew of someone they could help. Dohohue referred him to Grace Gomez, who lives on Maricopa Avenue.

Gomez herself has done plenty to help the community.

With fellow Maricopa resident Gwen Traylor, Gomez organized the city’s inaugural Relay for Life and raised more than $71,000 for American Cancer Society.

“It was a new event for the city and very well received,” said Gomez, who has had family members stricken with cancer.

Gomez said she was not able to walk in the event because of a knee injury, but both her son and daughter had organized teams.

Durkee and about 10 Medtronic employees painted the exterior of her house yesterday. In about seven hours, the blue stucco house was transformed into a newer-looking brown one.

“I am very grateful they were able to paint it and pay for the paint,” she said. “It looks really nice.”

Durkee said a third partner, H&N Landscape, loaned out its pressure washer so the crew could clean the walls before painting. Durkee said it took 24 gallons, which he bought at Maricopa Ace Hardware and paid for himself.

This year’s motto for Medtronic’s volunteer day is “Many Hearts, One Community.” Altogether, 42 projects for 40 organizations were completed throughout the Valley.