Big winners announced in second annual Big Give

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  On July 17, eight teams set out to make people's life better in the local community of Alamogordo, N.M. The competition was designed to see which Air Force team could give back the most.

The winning team of Holloman's second annual Big Give was announced during the after-party at the Desert Sands Club here Aug. 7.

Although every team considers themselves a winner for having helped those in need, Team RECAPPED was awarded a $10,000 grand prize donated by Desert Sun Motors and Toyota.

Bobby Martinez, owner of Desert Sun Motors, said this was the "greatest $10,000 he's ever spent."

RECAPPED spent the last three weeks working with the Cancer Awareness Prevalence Prevention and Early Detection center of Otero County, a non-profit corporation dedicated to helping the community combat the devastation of cancer.

The 12 members of the team dedicated more than 490 team hours to renovation. During the competition, the team put up walls, both interior and exterior; tore out and replaced the concrete flooring; and ultimately turned one big room into four rooms to be used for examinations.

"When CAPPED opens these four new offices the community will benefit in a huge way," said Patti Ren, 49th Contracting Squadron and team leader of RECAPPED. "I am so proud of what our team has accomplished and I am greatly humbled to be a part of this team and all of the challenges we overcame."

And the winnings didn't stop there. Two teams received a surprise reward on behalf of two Big Give sponsors.

Baja Broadband awarded Team H.U.G. (Holloman Underground Group) with $1,000 for their work with the Children, Youth and Family Department. The team advocated for their services as well as making more than 40 backpacks full of personal items to give to children. Additionally, they underwent clean-up projects and renovations on three homes for those in need, including a sober living house.

Team Housebusters, last year's grand prize winner, also won $1,000 on behalf of Mesa Verde Enterprises as well as the $500 People's Choice Award winner, which was donated by Otero Federal Credit Union.

The team, made up of mostly civil engineers, used their skill sets to undergo a complete renovation on the Disabled American Veterans Center. They did everything from landscaping to electrical work and most importantly, made the center handicap accessible.

"This was an opportunity for Holloman to use its skills and passion to serve their community," said Amanda Gallager, 49th Force Support Squadron marketing director. "It was 100 degrees almost every day the last three weeks, not a single building had air conditioning and they were varnishing, staining and making the DAV center handicap accessible."

Additionally, Team Fountaingate Promise was awarded $500 by Physician Health in El Paso, Texas, for remodeling the Fountaingate Children's Home.

In the end, although there we're only three winning teams, not one team walked away disappointed, said Ms. Gallagher.

"It was a great time and we touched so many people," said Shaun Goodenow, 49th Force Support Squadron and member of Team Desert Dawgs.

Running with the motto, "If you're if need we will feed," Team Desert Dawgs fed more than 500 homeless people in the local community.

Another team, Team Foreman, worked with the Pregnancy Help Center by raising money through a bake sale and throwing a baby shower for ten expecting women, providing them with books, diapers and onesies for their new additions.

Lastly, Team Hungry Hungry Hippos did renovations for the La Vida Learning Institute and painted a large mural for the children of the institute to enjoy.

"It's good to see the teams did different things and really helped a gambit of different charities and folks who were in need," said Col. Stephen DiFonzo, 49th Mission Support Group Commander. "They really went looking for people that were in need of help and not just taking whatever came by. It's good to see the military community making an impact in the local community and bringing fresh new ideas to the town and executing the ideas."

In the beginning, each team went into the community with an incentive to give the most and to win, but most teams got more than they bargained for.

"What was amazing to me is these teams were put together and a lot of the time they didn't even know each other before this and now they're the greatest of friends," said Mr. Martinez. "The ultimate goal turned out not to be the money. It turned out to be making the people who needed help in this community smile and realize there are some great people in this world."

For more information about this year's Big Give and to see what each team did, visit the official Big Give Facebook page at www.facebook.com/holloman.biggive1.