CH2M HILL employees donate more than $1 million to Water For People

 DENVER — Employees of CH2M HILL donated more than $1 million to Water For People (www.waterforpeople.org) during the nine years of the company’s annual Workplace Giving Campaign. The global, full-service consulting, design, construction, and operations firm hosted the organization’s first Workplace Giving Campaign in 2003. This year’s month-long campaign raised more than $223,000, bringing total employee donations to $1,067,000. Water For People is a non-profit international development organization dedicated to helping people gain access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation.

“For 20 years, Water For People has worked to help people in developing countries improve their quality of life through drinking water and improved sanitation projects. We want everyone — every house, every clinic, and every school — in our program areas to have coverage. CH2M HILL supported the organization during its earliest planning stages. That support continues today and helps us work towards full coverage for everyone,” said Ned Breslin, Water For People chief executive officer. “We cannot even begin to express our appreciation for the generosity that CH2M HILL employees have shown.”

“The generosity of our employees continues to amaze and inspire me as we set the bar higher each year on our workplace giving campaign,” said Bob Bailey, president of CH2M HILL’s Water Business Group. “Water For People is one of our company’s strategic communities partners. We’re committed to Water For People because we share a similar goal of building a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation. It’s wonderful to see how our employees have embraced the organization and demonstrated their goodwill in helping people around the world meet their basic needs through water and sanitation projects.”

CH2M HILL hosted its first Workplace Giving Campaign in 2003, raising approximately $10,000. Donations have grown, and each of the past four years passed $190,000. Employees in more than 150 offices around the world donated in 2011, including locations in Afghanistan, Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Panama, and the United States.

Employees’ support of Water For People goes beyond donating to the Workplace Giving Campaign. Numerous employees volunteer with the World Water Corps, Water For People’s volunteer organization, with the company providing grants for employees to travel on these post-project evaluation trips. Even more employees give their time on local volunteer committees in the U.S. and Canada, raising money and awareness for the organization. Finally, Elisa Speranza, president of the Operations and Maintenance division and co-Workplace Giving Campaign sponsor, is the chair of the Water For People board of directors. Other employees have served on Water For People and Water For People – Canada boards as well.

Beyond employee donations, CH2M HILL supports Water For People with an annual contribution and sponsors many of the organization’s activities, including its annual golf tournament and events at conferences.