Billy’s Place is a community haven that families and children experiencing grief can rely on. When they reached out to the Sundt team to help with renovations for their new location, it was an immediate “yes.”

 

 

“Their space is the coziest, warmest, most perfect place for a kid who’s going through the hardest time of their life—they even have therapy dogs,” said Sundt’s community relations specialist Savannah Heath. Everyone who steps through the doors to Billy’s Place immediately feels the warmth that Savannah speaks about.

But the impact of Billy’s Place goes beyond the cozy and warm walls of their building. The staff at Billy’s Place spend their time visiting schools around Arizona, educating teachers about grief and how to help their students work through the varying emotions. They believe nobody should be alone in the hardest time of their life.

 

 

“We have an online webinar called Beyond the Hall Pass for educators. It trains them on the signs of grief and how to help their students move through what can be their toughest challenge to date,” said Kris Friedman, executive director of Billy’s Place. The webinar is an online version of their grief training that has guided over 50 different school districts in Arizona, helping teachers feel comfortable approaching someone who is experiencing loss.

 

 

Since Billy’s Places’ founding in 2012 they have grown exponentially, with more community members requiring their services every day. This resulted in the need to relocate from small, rented rooms in schools and places of worship to a larger space that was once a karate studio. The upgraded center has new experiences, giving kids the tools and resources to move through their grief.

With a plan already in place, Kris was looking for someone who could help the organization renovate the karate studio. The biggest area of need was the electrical scope of work. As a previous Sundt Foundation grant recipient, she reached out to Sundt, and John Colonna, director of electrical construction, stepped in.

 

 

“I love the fact that we work for a company where service is a core value,” John said. “Donating our services to Billy’s Place was a no brainer, and involving our electrical apprentices made it a great opportunity for everyone.” He and Sundt’s self-perform electrical team worked together with Kris and the contractor taking point on the project to transform the space’s electricity.

 

 

Over the course of six months, John and his team of electrical apprentices reconfigured all the existing power and lighting. They installed light fixtures and switches, receptacles and fire alarms— even telecom. The renovation gives kids new experiences, like the emotion commotion room, a room dedicated to getting out bigger emotions, and the imagination room, a space for limitless play.

 

 

Kris, like all the staff at Billy’s Place, is passionate about the work that they do. “It was amazing to work with the Sundt team,” said Kris. “Kids are often forgotten mourners. People always think they’ll bounce back quickly because they like to play. But, kids need to know what support looks and feels like in the hardest time of their lives.”

 

 

Discover more about the Sundt Foundation and Sundt’s community involvement.