Transportation design and construction companies earn ARTBA Helping Hand Awards

Washington, D.C. — Four of the nation’s top transportation design and construction companies were recognized May 10 with “Helping Hand Awards” by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF).

The annual competition honors “organizations within the transportation industry that have exceptional strategic philanthropic programs — outside the scope of normal business operations — that strengthen, build, improve the quality of life and make a positive difference in their communities.”

Executives from HDR Foundation, Ranger Construction Industries, KCI Technologies and Transurban received their awards during an ARTBA-TDF luncheon in the Nation’s Capital during the association’s Federal Issues Program

HDR Foundation: Omaha, Neb.

For years, the HDR Foundation’s commitment to the community has been apparent, including cleaning, painting and restoring stalls at a therapeutic horseback riding academy near its home base of Omaha, Neb. HDR employees across the country helped choose where over $400,000 was distributed over the course of 18 months. In order for an organization to be considered for a grant, it must have an HDR employee sponsor actively involved in its program.

Large grant recipients in 2015 included Grid Alternatives, which helped develop the country’s first solar garden dedicated exclusively to serving low-income households; and the Lower Merion Conservancy, which will help bring cleaner drinking water to the Delaware Watershed — an effort that will impact 17 million people in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.

KCI Technologies Inc.: Sparks, Md.

In 2015, KCI employees volunteered their time and talents to support 55 community and non-profit organizations. Employees organized a food drive for the Wake County, N.C., Salvation Army food bank; collected trash at Cox Creek and Swan Creek in Maryland; helped clean up and repair a Chesapeake Bay lighthouse; led a mission trip to repair homes in West Virginia; and mentored young engineers and scientists. One KCI employee took a leave of absence to help support wounded, ill and injured Marines transition back into their homes and family lives.

Ranger Construction Industries, Inc.: West Palm Beach, Fla.

Last year Ranger Construction employees took part in numerous local activities, including participating in a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to raise awareness and funds for the cure of breast cancer; paving church parking lots in South Florida; joining a Touch-A-Truck event for children and families to learn about a wide variety of construction vehicles; adopting five local families for the holiday season; and taking part in “Construction Industry Career Days” at local high schools.

Transurban: Alexandria, Va.

Transurban’s extensive community programs included the 495 and 95 Express Lanes Community Grant Programs; 1,000 Trees in 1,000 Days; and the Orange Cones. No Phones. safety program. Through the 1,000 Trees in 1,000 Days Program, the 95 Express Lanes project committed to planting 1,000 trees along the project corridor to help minimize some of the impact of tree clearing necessary for construction of the lanes. Local organizations, including local Cub Scout troops in Stafford County, worked with Transurban to help determine where the saplings were planted.