With Thanksgiving around the corner, HBW is mindful of our blessings and the strong bonds we share in the communities where we work. Our community service initiatives highlight our commitment to giving back.
“Every outreach experience is enjoyable because it feels good to help others. I’m proud to work for HBW, and I think every company should give something back to the local community,” says Phil Scott, HBW CEO.
HBW is known for commercial projects and specialized spaces throughout the Washington metropolitan area. However, construction isn’t the only focus for HBW. Since 2014, HBW has developed several Giving Back Initiatives to assist neighbors in need.
Giving Back with A Local Focus
Choosing different projects each month, HBW staffers volunteer their time during lunch or after hours or contribute needed supplies. The ask and the tasks may vary, but the impact is always local.
“Initially, we wanted to meet the needs closest to our office in Rockville. That was easy because was nearby, Nourish Now, a local food bank, was one street over, and the was literally right down the street. Over the years, we’ve expanded to other organizations that our staff knew we were looking for help or with a constant need for support, like the Children’s Inn in Bethesda,” explains outreach committee leader and Digital Marketing Manager Megan Alfonso.
HBW has supported Stepping Stones Shelter in many ways, including landscaping, holiday drives, and gathering items from their “urgent needs” list. A recent project gave the office staff a chance to flex their field skills for an exterior facelift. Partnering with Dakota Ryan Painting, a subcontractor, staff handled power washing, sanding, priming and painting the deck of the shelter’s main building.
The work took several weeks and had to be scheduled around the weather, but many found the project rewarding because they could see progress being made.
“My favorite community outreach experience so far has been helping paint the porch at Stepping Stones Shelter! Even though I was worried about painting outside the lines, it was still a very therapeutic event,” says Maura Shannon, Marketing Associate and volunteer.
HBW has a growing network of customers across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia as the region adds more multi-family housing, walkable community hubs, and office and retail space. Volunteering allows team members to get to know people in the community who may never need construction services but are actively building up these same areas in other ways.
“Volunteering your time for Community Programs is not just about giving back, it’s also about learning and evolving. The busier and more involved we get with our work, the more important it becomes to seek opportunities that keep our staff focused on our values and expand our relationships” adds John Leach, HBW Construction’s President.
The company has seen a ripple effect of positivity and company pride resulting from its team community service projects.
Marketing Associate Maura Shannon agrees, “It’s always such a rewarding feeling being able to help someone else out and make a positive impact on the community, so it means a lot to me that HBW takes the time to set up events and drives so that we have the opportunity to help out.”
Angel Colon, Assistant VP of Estimating adds, “It’s very important to me. When a company has the commitment to give back, it means that not everything is about work or making money. It is fulfilling when you have the opportunity to make the lives of the people of your community a little bit better.”
He continues, “There are so many projects that stand out, but if I had to choose one, I would say the NIH Children’s Inn dinner was my favorite. The Children’s Inn provides residential services to children with rare diseases and their families free of charge, while they are participating in studies/treatments at the NIH. Once a year, we provided dinner to the residents, so they don’t have to worry about preparing a meal after a long day at the hospital. Even though we haven’t done it since the pandemic, I still remember the gratitude and appreciation of the residents.”
Recently, HBW has taken on seasonal clean-ups for Montgomery County Parks, collected food and school supplies, and raised funds for diabetes research with the JDFR Real Estate Games, an Olympic-style competition.
With an eye on new connections, HBW is actively seeking new and expanded nonprofit collaborations for 2024. Mixing business and community service, they hope their efforts can continue to impact the communities where they work and live.
Our Expert
Megan Alfonso joined HBW in 2014 and has been an integral part of the marketing team. Over the last few years, she has established HBW's social media/digital presence, creating a brand that stands out amongst our competitors. Megan is the voice of HBW and is the creative force behind HBW's digital efforts.
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