Kent Companies Employees Award 24 Community Grants to Non-Profit Organizations Across the Country
[GRAND RAPIDS, MI] – Kent Companies employees celebrated the results of their annual Kent Companies Gives Back Campaign by announcing charitable gifts to 24 different non-profit organizations across the country. Both national organizations and small local organizations in Kent Companies’ regional markets made the list.
Kent Companies Gives Back is an employee-driven charitable contribution campaign. Each spring, Kent employees have the opportunity to nominate and vote for charitable organizations. Community nominations are also accepted on the Kent Companies website. Top vote recipients receive a corporate donation from Kent Companies, and the gift is made in the name of the employee who submitted the nomination.
Kent Companies CEO Jeff VanderLaan shared, “An important part of our mission is to invest in the communities in which we build. By giving our employees the opportunity to help determine corporate donations, we learn what’s most important to our people. Then we act on it.”
VanderLaan continued, “Kent employees nationwide voiced support for hunger relief organizations and for children’s medical services in particular. It’s easy to see that we’re a team that embraces family values.”
Kent Companies employees are eager to share which community organizations are important to them. Often, the employee or their family has been personally impacted by the organization, or they serve as active volunteers outside of work. Communication between employees is encouraged throughout the campaign to help garner support for deserving organizations. Employee participation in Kent Companies Gives Back grew nearly 40% year over year.
Kent Companies Vice President Josh McKenzie nominated the local Blessings in a Backpack program in Strasburg, Ohio. McKenzie explained, “This program helps to feed low income children in our town. Typically, these kids may only have access to meals provided at school. Blessings in a Backpack ensures they have healthy food over the weekends and even throughout the summer months.”
Kent Companies Superintendent Troy Clinger nominated Steepletown Neighborhood Services, which provides community empowerment, education and workforce development services in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Clinger shared, “Steepletown clients get support obtaining their GED. They’re also provided with on the job training to enter the workforce more prepared. They learn how to give back to the community by being productive and by giving back to help pave the way for more individuals.”
Kent Companies Superintendent Victor Manriquez nominated Red Cross serving the North Texas region. He shared, “The Red Cross is always there to help people who have gone through an emergency and have to start again with nothing at all.”
Kent Companies Project Manager Stephen Clark nominated Catawba Lands Conservancy, which conserves land throughout the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Clark shared, “I am a huge supporter of preserving nature. At work, we build commercial and mixed-use projects across the region. I think it’s our responsibility to take care of our green spaces too. A strong community needs both.”
Kent Companies Gives Back will award charitable donations to the following organizations in 2017:
Michigan & Ohio Region:
• American Cancer Society – Grand Rapids Hope Lodge
• Bethany Christian Services
• Degage Ministries
• G.R. Initiative for Leaders
• Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation
• Make-a-Wish Foundation of Michigan
• Spectrum Health Foundation
• St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
• Steepletown Neighborhood Services
• Tiger Paw Packs / Blessings in a Backpack
Charlotte, North Carolina Region:
• Catawba Lands Conservancy
• Humane Society of Charlotte
• Rideability Therapeutic Riding Center
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina
• Seeing & Believing
• Thompson Child & Family Focus
Dallas, Texas Region:
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross- North Texas
• Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation
• Children’s Health Foundation
• Dallas Fallen Officers Foundation
• National Alopecia Areata Foundation
• North Texas Food Bank
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About Kent Companies:
Kent Companies is a 3rd-generation family-owned business with expertise in commercial and industrial construction, mixed-use construction, multi-family housing, tilt-up concrete, post-tensioned cast in place structures and a full range of concrete-related specialties. Kent Companies is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has operations in Detroit, Michigan; Dallas, Texas; central Ohio and Charlotte, North Carolina. The Kent Companies team has built a reputation as “Leaders in Concrete.” Read more online at www.kentcompanies.com. Additional media inquiries can be directed to Leah Gradl by emailing lgradl@kentcompanies.com or by calling (616) 534-4909.
