For its 30th community project, development industry group Valley Partnership chose to build an urban garden at The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Downtown Phoenix.

NAI Horizon volunteers sowed the seeds of community service on a cool, overcast Saturday morning. Leading the team was Principal and CEO Terry Martin-Denning, who had the important job of working the registration table as more than 300 volunteers took part.

NAI Horizon’s Sarah Stecko (right) helps make scarecrows.

Also volunteering their time were NAI Horizon office professionals Jeff Adams, Logan Crum, Michael Gaida, Laurel Lewis and Sarah Stecko.

More than 100 corporate sponsors helped raise $200,000 toward the community project. Work included building raised planter beds, laying pavers, building a chicken run, building an outdoor classroom and a meditation area, and planting fruit-bearing trees.

One of Valley Partnership’s cornerstones is community service. Each year, it selects a non-profit organization that can benefit from the skills, efforts and supplies provided by its partners to renovate and enhance facilities for children and those in need. Valley Partnership has now contributed more than $4.5 million to the community through these projects.

In July, Valley Partnership announced at a surprise party that St. Vincent de Paul was the 2017 recipient.

NAI Horizon’s Laurel Lewis (left) puts some muscle into sanding a picnic table.