More Spotlights Contact: Corporate Development Officer Sabrina Pourmand (650) 568-7337 spourmand@peninsula habitat.org Home Partnerships Spotlight Kensington Computer Products Group President of Local Company Encourages Entire Staff to Volunteer over Three-Day Period More than 75 volunteers from Kensington Computer Products Group helped build homes for local low-income families in October as part of the company's annual all-staff build event with Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. A Redwood Shores-based company, Kensington regularly encourages its employees to make a substantial investment in their community. "One of our company's core beliefs is that businesses do good things for shareowners, employees, customers, and the community," said Boris Elisman, President of Kensington Computer Products Group. "These are not just words - we conduct our business in line with these beliefs. Last year we volunteered with Peninsula Habitat and found our experience very rewarding and motivating. This year we wanted to do it again." Kensington's all-staff build event with Peninsula Habitat began two years ago after 75 employees volunteered over a three-day period to help break ground on five homes in Daly City that are now occupied by Habitat homeowners. This year employees volunteered to help build seven homes in Brisbane. Kensington divided its employees into three groups asking each employee to volunteer one day with Peninsula Habitat. They helped build retaining walls, put up drywall, install site drainage and attach roof supports. "I was installing insulation in the garage," Elisman said. "Other employees were hanging drywall, digging ditches and painting. It's important to have credibility with my employees, to walk the talk and deliver on our core values and beliefs. I can't ask my employees to do something that I'm not willing to do." In addition to Peninsula Habitat, Kensington has contributed financially to tsunami and hurricane relief efforts, the United Way and the Shelter Network. In the coming year, they plan to work with the American Heart Association and hope to volunteer again at Peninsula Habitat's eight home Redwood City project. "It's important to contribute money, but also time and effort," Elisman said. "That's where Peninsula Habitat comes in. There's nothing more worthwhile than helping to build shelter for people who can't afford to have it."