GE volunteers to bring new life to Brewery Arts Center

More than 90 employees from General Electric Co. will take over the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City on Saturday. Their goal is not to take in a performance or view the art on display, but to help give the building new life.

"GE was looking for a large project that could use volunteers, and they wanted something they could put 10 percent of their workforce on," said John Procaccini, BAC executive director. "Once they heard all the things we wanted to do, they were happy to help."

Employees from GE's Optimization and Control division, based in Minden, will spend the entire day working on various projects at the center. They will be painting the performance hall, doing minor construction and carpeting inside the buildings, and provide extensive landscaping on the property.

In addition to volunteering time, GE also donated $4,000 for improvements.

"A lot of our members and employees have a long-standing relationship with the Brewery Arts Center. It was a natural fit in terms of the education aspect," said Linda Master-Parker, GE communications and public affairs director.

GE volunteers will also install new signs around the property.

Because of safety and liability concerns, organizers are asking the public not to assist in the clean up efforts.

Procaccini said the volunteers will do work on the new media center set to be completed later this year. Volunteers will help construct offices and finish the area.

The event is one of the many efforts taking place during GE's third annual Global Community Days in May and June. An anticipated 20,000 GE employees from around the world are participating in service projects that cover a variety of local issues including education, human services and the environment.

"GE really wanted to make a footprint in our local communities," Master-Parker said.

GE volunteers contribute more than a million hours of service annually. The Sierra Nevada Chapter, consisting of 800 employees, donated 1,800 hours and raised more than $50,000 in 2005.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.