Partners in Wellness featuring Meritage Homes

08/24/2023

Banner Health Foundation gratefully acknowledges Meritage Homes’ support to help build a Play Zone at Diamond Children’s Medical Center. Once completed, this bright, open space will give hospitalized kids a place away from their hospital room and treatment areas to relax, play, read, express themselves creatively, and explore their emotions.

We recently sat down with the Meritage Homes team to learn what inspired their support of the Banner Health Foundation.

Describe the ways that Meritage Homes has found meaningful impact in supporting the Play Zone at Diamond Children’s.
The Tucson Division of Meritage Homes is grateful to have the opportunity to be just a small part of the Banner Health Foundation’s efforts in the building of the Play Zone at Diamond Children’s. This creation of a safe place will allow children to heal, have fun, and let their stresses and anxieties go during that window of time. One of our company’s Core Values is to Start with Heart, and we see this mirrored in Diamond Children’s commitment to helping sick children and their families deal with the unimaginable illness of a child, healing together as a family unit, and minimizing negative and lasting impacts for the entire family.

How did Meritage team members get involved with supporting Diamond Children’s?
The Tucson Meritage team participated in a toy drive to benefit Toy Closets at Diamond Children’s. We took up a collection of many different items including books, games, craft kits, stuffed animals, coloring books and markers, building blocks, and more. “Supporting the communities where we live and work is a responsibility we all share,” says Steve Hilton, Executive Chairman, Meritage Homes. Not only do we believe this is a shared responsibility, but it is something our employees at Meritage Homes are proud to participate in.

How does this grant reflect Meritage Homes’ culture and goals?
The mission of Meritage Cares is to enrich lives in the communities where we do business by providing assistance to eligible charitable organizations for the support and well-being of children, families, military veterans and other charitable causes approved by the Foundation’s selection committee. Through the act of giving, everyone receives. Giving back for the betterment of everyone is a cornerstone of our culture and our Foundation’s mission. You can see it in our involvement in Operation Homefront’s Homes on the Homefront program, where we construct and donate Meritage Homes to deserving veterans who have been wounded during their service to our country. Or, the generous and tireless support of our employees in assisting charitable organizations focused on children and families in need. Start with Heart is not only a Core Value of our company, but it is who we are as people.

To learn more about the Play Zone, support today with an online gift or contact Debbie Sheppard, Chief Development Officer for Tucson, at 520.694.3967.