HDR Employee Network Group Grants Exceed $300,000
HDR employees will impact their communities through 37 employee network group grants totaling more than $300,000.
In the first year of this new program, the HDR Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $300,770, while the HDR Canada Fund awarded three grants totaling CA$15,000.
“These grants may contribute to organizations celebrating the histories of Asian American and Pacific Islanders, supporting LGBTQIA+ youths, and providing shelters to families in need, just to name a few,” said Yunfei Zhang, section lead for network policy planning and member of an employee committee that reviewed grant applications. “The ENGs are looking forward to a continued partnership with the HDR Foundation and giving back to our communities.”
Each grant is sponsored by an employee who belongs to one of HDR’s eight ENGs, which help create an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute.
“This grant project will help Brave Trails continue the critical work of providing life-changing, joyful experiences to LGBTQIAP2S+ youth who must fend off a barrage of messages from our world that they are undeserving of dignity, physical safety and love," said Lucy Terrell-Lewis, transportation project engineer and co-chair of HDR’s Allies ENG. "The sense of belonging and celebration of identity they experience at camp bolster these youth year-round, improving outcomes of mental well-being and healthy life choices. With this grant, HDR will join the chorus of Brave Trails supporters assuring these youth that they are loved and supported exactly as they are.”
The causes are often personal to the employee sponsoring the grant.
“Challenge Alaska has improved my family’s life by teaching my husband to downhill mono-ski," said Katherine Wood, area business development leader and chair of HDR’s disAbilities ENG. "JP’s a high-functioning quadriplegic and extremely capable. But there are very few outdoor activities we can do together as a family. Challenge has changed that for us, and the joy they provide to disabled people and their families is infectious. Anything I can do to give back to them is a just a drop in the bucket compared to what they’ve done for us.”
Read about the latest grants.
About the HDR Foundation
The HDR Foundation provides grants to qualified organizations that align with HDR’s areas of expertise: education, healthy communities and environmental stewardship. As an employee-funded and employee-driven foundation, preference is given to organizations located in communities in which HDR employees live and work, and those with strong employee involvement. Since its inception, the HDR Foundation has provided more than $9 million in grants to over 350 organizations.
About HDR
For over a century, HDR has partnered with clients to shape communities and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Our expertise spans more than 12,000 employees in more than 200 locations around the world — and counting. Our engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services bring an impressive breadth of knowledge to every project. Our optimistic approach to finding innovative solutions defined our past and drives our future.
