HITTING PAYDIRT

?Digger Day transforms the simple act of playing in the dirt into a powerful gesture of hope and support for young cancer warriors. From bulldozers to mazes to giant sand piles, Digger Day gives a whole new meaning to getting your hands dirty, but for a wonderful cause. The annual event centers on heightening awareness of child cancer, raising funds for the Child Cancer Fund (CCF), and giving children — from tots to teenagers — one special day to celebrate them.?

The second weekend in April, Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors and Beard Equipment partnered with 59 sponsors for the third annual Digger Day 2024, together raising over $66,000 for the children’s charity. A special project for both firms, the event hosted its biggest numbers yet, both in dollars raised and more than 180 children from the organization participating.?

These resilient children, along with their families, hit the dirt playing in a giant sand pile, racing through a specially constructed maze, navigating a pipe crawl, creating sand art, ziplining, and jumping around a bounce house.?

?“The excitement of driving these larger-than life machines and all the activities gives the kids a chance to forget about cancer for a while and just enjoy being a kid. We hear from so many families about how it is their favorite event, and that’s all because of the kindness, compassion, and faith in the CCF mission shown by Petticoat-Schmitt and their partners.”?- Carla Montgomery, Executive Director, Child Cancer Fund

?The sounds of laughter and joy permeated the day with families enjoying treats and entertainment, with an ever-present reminder of the event’s deeper purpose: to support and celebrate the courage of children fighting cancer. Face painting, a DJ, food trucks, and more pizza, popcorn, and cotton candy than they could eat also helped each child feel truly celebrated. Perhaps the biggest draw, however, was the chance to operate heavy machinery. After donning safety glasses, vests, and hard hats provided in goody bags — and participating in a hands-on demonstration of proper bulldozing techniques — eager kids climbed aboard a bulldozer and moved some dirt, all under the expert supervision of Petticoat-Schmitt volunteers.?

“It was a day filled with laughter, joy, and, most importantly, love for the kids and families of the Child Cancer Fund. It’s moments like these that truly define us as a team and as a company. We were digging for smiles and found resounding success, “said Lauren Atwell, President and COO of Petticoat-Schmitt.?

The morning was dedicated to the children from CCF, and the afternoon was opened to the children, and children at heart, from Petticoat-Schmitt, Beard, and the supporting sponsors who made the event extraordinary. “From our first year, I knew that we had to make this an annual event. It’s been a very rewarding experience to be part of Digger Day and work with the Child Cancer Fund. I can’t wait to see what Digger Day 2025 holds,” said Brandi Manning, Director of Team Development at Petticoat-Schmitt. Since its inception in 2022, Digger Day has donated over $100,000 to CCF assisting them in their efforts to help local families in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia through the challenges of childhood cancer.?