BJ Foster
Trane’s Southwestern sales office and Rush Air Conditioning and Refrigeration in Casa Grande have again teamed up to provide HVAC equipment, installation and servicing to Robson Ranch in Eloy for the non-profit organization Support Our Troops-Arizona (SOT-AZ) program.
SOT-AZ is a public charity through which Americans strengthen the morale and well-being of current military service members, veterans and their families. SOT-AZ’s programs annually provide thousands of dollars’ worth of care goods and services including family assistance and positive public support.
Steve Anderson, past president of SOT-AZ at Robson Ranch, says the group first recruited a donation from Trane through Rush Air Conditioning three years ago. David Dee, territory manager for Trane’s Southwestern sales office, said that Trane donated a five-ton air conditioning unit, a mini-split unit, and a whole-house electronic wireless monitoring system. “SOT-AZ uses the money it gets from auctioning our equipment and Rush’s installation services to help service members get their feet on the ground in terms of housing, job support, resume support, interview training and whatever else the veteran needs,” Dee pointed out.
“Robson Ranch is a 55-and over community of 1,160 homes.” Anderson said “I’m ex-Air Force, so when I moved in I wanted to start something that would support needy veterans in Pinal County.” SOT-AZ’s week-long fundraising event includes a golf tournament, and dinner. Steve started a live auction where goods and services are auctioned off, like Trane HVAC equipment, Rush Air Conditioning installation and service along with other items.
Oscar Osuna, owner of Rush Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, said “Our part in the process is doing the labor of installing the equipment for free, extending the warranty and providing a two-year maintenance agreement. We enjoy supporting our veterans through the SOT-AZ project, and plan on keeping up our participation.”
Anderson pointed out that “All the money we get from the auction stays within the SOT-AZ program. We go through $35,000 a year for veterans in Eloy and Casa Grande for emergency needs. Ninety-eight percent of the money we collect goes toward veterans, not in cash, but in paying rent, tuition, goods or to the veteran’s center. He noted that the city of Casa Grande recently opened a veteran’s center in town next to the state employment agency. They also have a 55ft. RV called the Eagle 1, that they take around the state to offer services to veterans who aren’t near a veteran’s center or SOT-AZ program.”
SOT-AZ thanks them for their continued support.
You do not need to be a veteran to join this club to help us help veterans.
INFORMATION: VA Crisis Line, 1-800-273-8255, PRESS 1.
Partial information from an article that appeared in the April 2018 edition of HVACR Today, a publication for HVAC professionals.