PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Employees from Vivint, one of North America’s largest home automation companies, provided holiday gifts for about 665 elementary school students at Lincoln Elementary in Salt Lake City and Sunset View Elementary in Provo, through their Sub for Santa program.
Vivint employees contributed nearly $60,000 from their own paychecks toward the effort. They also had the opportunity to shop for each child they “adopted” through the program, selecting personalized gifts that included clothing, educational supplies, as well at least one item from the students’ wish lists.
On Tuesday, Dec. 20, Vivint employees joined students at both schools to celebrate and open the presents. About 190 students at Sunset View received gifts, along with all 475 students at Lincoln—97 percent of whom live below the poverty level. Vivint also “adopted” a Salt Lake-area family with two children suffering from a rare genetic disorder.
“This was the fourth consecutive year our employees have opened their hearts and wallets to those in need during the holiday season,” said Josh Houser, president of Vivint Gives Back, the company’s charitable arm. “There isn’t anything more rewarding and meaningful than providing joy and restoring hope for these children. We are grateful to these schools and families for giving us such a wonderful opportunity.”
“Many of the families we serve work hard but still struggle to make ends meet,” said Lincoln Elementary Principal Karen Gregory. “For these families, the holidays can bring both joy and heartache. By participating in the Sub for Santa program, Vivint employees provide important necessities, and a reminder that the broader community is here to support and care for our students and their families as well.”
“When my team heard about this opportunity, they responded immediately with a level of generosity that was overwhelming,” said Vivint Regional Manager Jason Brown, whose team of 30 sales managers raised over $22,000. “Being able to shop for the kids and be there with them when they opened the presents was an awesome experience. The old saying, it’s better to give than receive, took on a whole new meaning for all of us.”
About Vivint Gives Back
Vivint Gives Back was created to alleviate hardship and restore hope for families in need. The program focuses the efforts of the company’s employees and owners, who contribute time, money, and volunteer hours to perform service in their communities. In addition, Vivint Gives Back hosts the Gives Back Project, an online charitable campaign that awarded $1.25 million to 86 non-profit organizations throughout the United States and Canada in 2011. Security Sales & Integration magazine also recognized the 2010 Gives Back Project as the “Best Community Outreach Program” with a SAMMY Award. For more information, visit http://www.vivint.com/givesback.
About Vivint
Vivint Inc. is a leading provider of home technology services in North America. Vivint’s technology-based platform integrates a wide range of wireless features and components that deliver simple, affordable home automation, solar, and smart grid solutions. In 2011, Vivint's Full Home Automation package and Advanced Security package received a Consumers Digest "Best Buy" rating. Dedicated to protecting families, increasing energy efficiency, and simplifying lives, Vivint has more than 12 years of experience and supports over 570,000 customers throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.vivint.com.