Universal Technical Institute gives back to the community during holiday season

Written by Phil Cerroni

The Universal Technical Institute staff and their families distribute toys to the children at the Christmas in the Park event.

The Universal Technical Institute Dallas campus in Irving celebrated the holiday season by helping families in need. The campus recently completed a food drive for the North Texas Food Bank that ran from Nov. 12 - 28.

Students and staff brought in 2,441 cans of food, approximately 900 more cans than last year. Jesse Torres, an instructor at the campus, told his students that he would personally match the amount of canned food they brought in. His class ended up donating 296 cans of food, which Mr. Torres matched.
“The generosity of the students and staff at our campus is truly a wonderful thing to see,” said Keith Pittman, Universal Technical Institute Dallas Interim Campus President. “Not only are we here to train the next generation of automotive and diesel technicians, but we are also committed to giving back to the community where we live and work.”
On Dec. 15, staff members donated their time at Dallas’ largest holiday charity event, Christmas in the Park. Held at Fair Park in Dallas, the event provides Southern Dallas families in need with everything from a hot meal to basic necessities like clothes and household items to bikes and toys to help make a child’s Christmas wish come true. Run by the S.M. Wright Foundation, this annual event has grown from serving less than 200 underprivileged kids in 1998 to an estimated 40,000 residents at this year’s event.