FORT MOHAVE — Woodshop students at the Academy of Building Industries have left a legacy — for the BHHS Legacy Foundation.
Students in Paula Deshaw’s woodworking class recently donated a hand-crafted desk to the Legacy Foundation’s Tri-state office in Bullhead City.
“I am so proud and in awe of the beauty of this one-of-a-kind desk,” said Teri Tomlinson, the foundation’s Tri-state vice president for program development. “It will be an honor to be able to complete my job duties using this magnificent desk.”
AOBI Principal Jean Thomas said the school and its students wanted to give something to the Legacy Foundation in honor of all the assistance the nonprofit has shown to the school and other institutions, organizations and agencies.
“We wanted to show our appreciation for the tremendous support that BHHS Legacy Foundation provides,” Thomas said.
Deshaw said she and the students did all the work on the massive desk, from design to installation.
“The desk design was planned by myself and students,” she said. “Our biggest design problem was to be able to disassemble and be able to transport.”
Deshaw said that from start to finish the project took about five months and included the L-shaped desk and a matching file cabinet.
The desk is made of pine with two different stains used, one for the base and another brighter stain for the desktop.
“The handles were made in our blacksmithing class,” Deshaw said.
The design included a unique feature — LED lights embedded under the rim of the desktop. When using a remote control, the lights may be turned on or off and can be changed to many different colors.
The BHHS Legacy Foundation was formed by the 2000 sale of Baptist Hospitals and Health Systems facilities in Arizona, including the hospital now known as Western Arizona Regional Medical Center.
Proceeds from the sale were used to establish the BHHS Legacy Foundation — under the umbrella of the Legacy Connection — to continue to support the communities in the Tri-state and Phoenix regions.
To date, the foundation and Legacy Connection have contributed more than $110 million to nonprofit projects, programs and organizations that provide care and services in those communities.
The mission of the foundation is to provide “long-lasting improvements” in those communities.
Tomlinson said this time, it’s the students at AOBI, a high school focused on vocational trades, who are providing a long-lasting improvement in her office space.
“This was such a thrill,” Tomlinson said. “These kids are so amazing and so talented.”
https://mohavedailynews.com/news/140050/aobi-students-build-desk-for-local-foundation/