HDR Foundation Gives 26 Grants Focused on Community Engagement
Above: Employees from HDR's Tampa and Sarasota offices volunteer at Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, which received a $10,000 HDR Foundation grant to support the farm’s hurricane recovery efforts and expand its sustainable agriculture programs.
$237,000 to Help Build Employee-Community Relationships
The HDR Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling more than $237,000, with each grant intended to be a catalyst for building stronger community partnerships.
Becky Baker, HDR senior environmental project manager, sponsored a grant to Special Olympics South Dakota for a new storage facility and sports equipment.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my HDR co-workers for supporting the Special Olympics team that my son Bennie is a part of,” Baker said. “The Bulldogs are a brand new delegation, and it’s a meaningful step forward that allows the Bulldogs to live out the Special Olympics motto: ‘Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.’”
For many employees, the aim is to build a long-term relationship with a nonprofit. Bri Dier, environmental engineer-in-training, sponsored a grant to Foster Love (formerly Together We Rise) in Atlanta.
“Through this grant, local foster children will be able to enjoy STEM activities and experience the joy of learning, which encouraged most engineers here at HDR to pursue their careers in STEM,” Dier said. “I’m hopeful that this is just the beginning of a long-standing relationship HDR can make with local youth groups here in Atlanta.”
Jake Hemingway, highway engineer, recognized an opportunity to help Sweetwater Organic Community Farm in Tampa recover from hurricane damage and increase crop production.
“Sweetwater Farm has been the hub of volunteering activity for the Tampa/Sarasota offices, and I am grateful that the HDR Foundation recognized the contribution they provide to the Tampa Bay community,” he said.
Similarly, employees from HDR’s Tucson, Arizona, office will help replace plants and trees at the Arizona Heroes Memorial, which honors veterans, first responders, healthcare workers and other frontline heroes.
“The vision is for the memorial to serve not only as a place of remembrance but as an educational and community gathering space,” said Maria Altemus, environmental planner and grant sponsor at HDR. “The new vegetation — which will include a diverse variety of plants and trees labeled with educational nameplates — will allow visitors, school groups and community members to learn about Arizona’s natural environment while reflecting on the sacrifices of our heroes.”
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 $12 million in grants to over 400 organizations.
About HDR
HDR is a 100% employee-owned professional services firm. Founded over a century ago to bring electricity to a changing world, we are now a global company specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services. Our success in built and natural environments continues as we collaborate to solve our clients’ and communities’ most complex challenges.
