Members of Associated Builders and Contractors’ Florida East Coast Chapter give back to their communities in enormous ways. Whether through the annual ABC Handlebars for the Holidays event, golf and fishing tournaments to benefit local charities or partnerships with the American Red Cross, these contractors have helped make the world a better place to live.
But when one of their own was in need and they didn’t have a direct conduit to help, ABC leaders jumped into action. Peter Dyga, now president of the chapter, and his predecessor, Dan Shaw, took the lead to form the ABC Cares Foundation, a 501c(3) organization that helps industry professionals who are experiencing health or financial problems.
A life-long construction professional who needed help to participate in an out-of-state clinical trial for pancreatic cancer. A long-time champion of ABC’s chartable fishing tournaments who was financially devastated by his fight with cancer. A career industry professional who had endured a severe and debilitating heart attack. The surviving spouse of a worker who had suffered a fatal industrial accident. A drywall craftsman and his daughters, whose sudden loss of their mother left the entire family with inimitable needs. These are just some of the individuals who have deeply felt the positive impact of the ABC Cares Foundation in their lives.
Over the last nearly 10 years, the foundation has raised more than $10 million—and the support is not limited to ABC member companies. The foundation’s board of trustees receives and reviews requests for financial aid on a monthly basis and distributes accordingly. With low overhead costs, the foundation guarantees that 98 cents of every dollar donated goes right back into helping those who need it most, as quickly as possible.
“Our fundraisers and charitable events are all well and good, but construction can be a dangerous industry, and our people have needs too,” Dyga says. “In many cases, we step in and are able to help folks in our industry who are injured or ill before benefits like short-term disability kick in. We fill that gap for them.”
In addition to serving in times of loss or hardship, the foundation gives stipends for travel and registration for industry professionals participating in ABC’s National Craft Championships, and it awards graduates or enrollees of ABC-sponsored apprenticeship programs for their academic honors or perfect attendance.
“This foundation is so important in helping the local construction industry community,” says Harold Yarborough, CEO of Sunrise, Florida-based D&B Tile Distributors and a member of the foundation’s board of trustees.
“I was born into this hardworking community, and I am a second-generation construction industry professional. This foundation is here to help support workers who sometimes are caught in the middle of normal support channels. ABC cares and helps when asked.”
