Tag: United States military

SEM Team Joins Forces for Operation Playhouse

October 9, 2020 at 6:52 pm by Amanda Canale

WESTBOROUGH, MA, October 9, 2020 – Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, spent the day of Thursday, October 8, 2020 partnering with Habitat for Humanity for Operation Playhouse. The operation allows the opportunity for local Worcester County businesses to partner with veteran and military families to build and donate a playhouse to the family’s children. Each year, participating local businesses receive construction plans, paint, and a deconstructed house to build, and are given free reign to decorate the playhouses based on the children’s interests.

This year, SEM decorated the playhouse for Marine veteran Allen Proctor’s family and their three-year-old daughter Charlotte. Proctor served in the U.S. Marines from 2003 to 2007.

After weeks of planning, the team arrived onsite at SEM headquarters bright and early to start building Charlotte’s playhouse. Operation Playhouse’s 2020 theme was “barnyard,” so the SEM team decided to get creative and adopted a Charlotte’s Web aesthetic as a play on the three-year-old’s name.

“SEM was founded by a Korean War veteran and we work very closely with all branches of the military, so this cause is always very dear to our hearts,” said Andrew Kelleher, SEM President. “It is always an absolute honor to come together and give back to a family that has given so much to our country.”

The SEM team all gathered safely outside to welcome the Proctor family with a round of applause as Charlotte excitedly ran towards her all-pink playhouse, her favorite color. The house was adorned with a hand painted sign reading, “Charlotte’s Barn” with a monogrammed pink rocking chair on the front porch. Inside, Charlotte’s Barn was filled with stuffed farm animals, a white and pink polka dotted bean bag chair, Little People farm set, and copies of Charlotte’s Web on DVD and novel written by E.B. White. Charlotte’s favorite feature was the brown hobbyhorse that patiently awaited her arrival outside the playhouse.

“As a team, we had so many great ideas for how we could make this the best playhouse for Charlotte, so to see her ecstatic reaction to everything was incredibly heartwarming,” said Amanda Canale, Marketing Assistant at SEM.

This is SEM’s third year taking part in Operation Playhouse and certainly won’t be the last. “We look forward to this every year and are already excitedly planning for next year,” added Canale.

Watch a recap of the day in the video below.

About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Security Engineered Machinery Builds Playhouse for Veteran Family

November 29, 2018 at 9:14 pm by Heidi White
The Brown family with their new playhouse

On November 28, 2018, Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, participated in Operation Playhouse, a unique program offered through Habitat for Humanity Metrowest/Greater Worcester. Operation Playhouse enables local businesses and organizations to build and donate a custom playhouse to benefit the children of local veterans and military personnel. The one-day event culminated with the presentation of the firetruck-themed playhouse to United States Marine Corps Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veteran Richard Brown and his family.

SEM Executive Vice President Nick Cakounes presents the playhouse to USMC Veteran Richard Brown, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom

The event started at 9am onsite at SEM corporate headquarters in Westboro. SEM employees volunteered to participate in various tasks including painting, constructing, roofing, and decorating the playhouse as well as building accessories. Several authentic firetruck items were donated by the Boston and Dunstable fire departments for use in the playhouse. The construction was overseen by David Hamilton, Community Program Manager for Habitat for Humanity. Veteran Richard Brown and his family, from Dunstable, MA, arrived at 3:30pm to receive the playhouse. Nicholas Cakounes, Executive Vice President of SEM, made the presentation.

“Veterans have a special place in our heart here at SEM,” said Mr. Cakounes. “We are filled with gratitude to those who have served our country and protect our freedom, so giving back in some small way through Operation Playhouse was an absolute honor.”

Jeff Lanoue, SEM’s New England Regional Sales Manager, and Garret Peters, SEM’s Operations Manager, constructing the windows.

“This event was incredibly special to me personally,” added Korean War Veteran Leonard Rosen, who is SEM’s founder and Chairman of the Board. “Mr. Brown selflessly served his country, ensuring our rights and freedom. That is a debt we can never repay, so we were thrilled to be able to do something to bring joy to him and his family.”

SEM is a veteran-owned company whose primary client base is the United States Federal Government and its entities, including all branches of the United States Military.

Service Technicians Shawn Barnham, Don Donahue, and Dave Carroll built a custom ladder for the playhouse