The Disability Empowerment Center (DEC) received a wonderful donation this past weekend. Over the course of two days, a group of volunteers from the International Professional Pond Companies Association (IPPCA) with sponsored supplies constructed a beautiful water feature. Just over a month ago Sarah Olson, Military and Membership Coordinator, received a phone call from Dave Jones of the IPPCA about providing a water feature to our campus. Being a Wounded Warrior Project Provider, Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABILITY360) and our Sports and Fitness Center (SpoFit), was a strong lead that gave Dave Jones the idea of putting the water feature somewhere on our campus.
With Dave Jones out of Georgia explaining the process, we were very intrigued about having this feature on our campus. Within a week, Paul Holdeman, from the Pond Gnome in Peoria was on our campus scouting the best site to put in the feature. Paul was given a tour of the facility with Phil Pangrazio and Dan Valadez. From this tour Paul had an understanding of available water sources and electricity, and the location was chosen.
Over the next couple of weeks, the IPPCA received donations from suppliers and during their annual conference which was held at the Phoenix Convention Center, November 16 and 17, 2014, a group of volunteers made this feature a reality. One highlight of the feature are the fiberoptic vases where the water fall initiates from, blend in great with the architecture of the DEC and the boulder construction blends wonderfully with the landscaping of the DEC.
We are very thankful to Dave Jones, the IPPCA and Paul Holdeman for putting this all together. DEC employees were pleasantly surprised coming into work on Monday morning. We are proud to have this on or campus!