Volunteers from TI helped some of its neighbors in nearby Hamilton Park paint and repair homes recently as part of the Dallas Leadership Foundation’s annual City of Hope Day.

This year, 95 TI employees, along with volunteers from a number of other organizations and churches, helped with painting, landscaping and general clean-up of six houses in the neighborhood.

TI volunteers helped repair distressed homes during this year’s City of Hope Day.

"City of Hope Day is an excellent opportunity to extend TI's time and resources to our neighbors in Hamilton Park," said Ezra Penermon, TI director of Community Affairs. "It is a key initiative that allows our employees to serve people in a positive, productive and personal way."

Veronica Cruz, who started an internship with TI a couple of months ago, said having the opportunity to give back to the community in this way was a great experience.

"Knowing that TI is so interested in the community and encourages events like these convinces me that this is a great working environment," she said. "I met friendly TI employees from different backgrounds and different job titles who all came together for the same cause. Everyone was so happy to be there, and even though it was hot outside, we all knew that just a couple of hours of sacrifice would make a really big difference in another person’s life."

Beatrice Fankem, a TI employee who also participated in this year’s event, said it was a gratifying and humbling experience to serve the Hamilton Park community.

TI volunteers participated in City of Hope Day by helping spruce up homes and yards.

"It is always amazing how in giving a little bit of ourselves, we receive so much in return," she said. "This activity bolstered my appreciation for teamwork and human kindness. The power of many reduced a daunting task to an easy and fast one -- we painted a whole house in half the allocated time. I am also appreciative of the people I connected with, especially fellow employees."

In all, the City of Hope project mobilized 550 volunteers to rehabilitate 24 houses in four neighborhoods across the city, helping low-income homeowners, particularly those who are elderly or disabled.