Engineering Inc - May/June 2018 - 68

ENGAGED GIVING

In 2017, KCI raised more than $140,000 for the United Way and
has brought more than $500,000 to the organization since 2009.
The totals are the result of a heavy emphasis on automatic giving
through payroll deductions (including a substantial number of
"Leadership Givers" who donate $1,000 or more per year), as well
as periodic fundraising events such as casino nights, raffles and the
firm's annual Pumpkin Chunking event.
For the past seven years, KCI employees have gathered with
sponsors and vendors for a competition to launch pumpkins as
far as possible with homemade trebuchets, catapults and even
oversized slingshots. Entry fees and other revenue generated by the
event go to charity. The fall 2017 Pumpkin Chunking event raised
around $1,700.
"We're an engineering firm, so it's perfect for us," Crowl says.
"It allows teams to work together outside of client-based projects. It builds teamwork, and it raises money for a good cause. If
you can engage not only the desire to give back but get people
active and fully engage all of their senses, they're more willing to
give. Plus, it's fun."
Franklyn Baker, president and CEO of United Way of Central
Maryland, calls KCI a "partner we can rely on."
The company has been focused on increasing its giving rate. "As
a company, they are truly a role model in many ways, and it starts
on the top. They lead by example," Baker says.
DeRose was inspired to nominate St. Jude as the firm's annual
employee-picked charity in part because a friend was treated for
leukemia at a children's hospital when DeRose was in college. "He
was surrounded by children under 10 years old who were dealing
with cancer," DeRose recalls. "That was a devastating experience,
to see that." DeRose and his co-chair helped raise more than
$27,000 for St. Jude, much of it coming from events such as 50/50

Two Decades of Benevolence
For the past 20 years, KCI employees have voted annually on
a new charity to support. Organizations benefiting from the
employee fundraising efforts include:
* Alzheimer's Association
* American Breast Cancer Foundation
* American Diabetes Association
* American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals
* Autism Society
* Convoy of Hope
* Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
* Epilepsy Foundation
* Habitat for Humanity
* Helping Hometown Heroes
* JDRF
* Make-A-Wish Foundation
* Ronald McDonald House Charities
* St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
* Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
* Wounded Warrior Project
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ENGINEERING INC.

MAY / JUNE 2018

payday raffles and silent auctions.
The fact that employees vote on
and are in charge of the fundraising
for a new charity each year helps create a more personal investment in the
effort, DeRose says. "Knowing the
company is supporting an organization because of an employee's personal
connection or beliefs, that makes me
more motivated to donate," he says.
"I feel like it's a twofold donation.
I'm supporting a charity, but I'm
also supporting a co-worker in their
passion."
HANDS-ON HELP

"Knowing the
company is
supporting an
organization
because of an
employee's
personal
connection
or beliefs,
that makes
me more
motivated to
donate."

Throughout the firm, employees are
also encouraged to tackle volunteer
projects for causes important to
them. Neimeyer says the hands-on
work is not only personally fulfilling,
but it creates bonds between colleagues that can carry over into the
workplace. "It's a tremendous getto-know-you experience," he says.
"You may not know the person who
sits two doors down from you, but if
you paint a gymnasium with them,
you're going to know what they like,
dislike, if they have kids."
For the past four years, KCI has
NATHAN DEROSE
sent a group of around 14 employees
KCI TECHNOLOGIES
to perform volunteer work on the
Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, a
historic lighthouse in the Chesapeake
Bay. Employees have scraped and
painted, installed spikes to keep birds off the structure and performed work to restore the lighthouse's historic appearance. Last
fall, the firm even sent a dive team to inspect the underwater portion of the structure.
"It really does help to build a sense of teamwork with your
staff," says Christopher Overcash, vice president and practice
leader at KCI, who organizes the annual volunteer day. "If an
employee has a cause that they're committed to, KCI gives the
opportunity to the employee to run with that concept."
Crowl says that KCI employees have also participated in
stream cleanups, blood drives and school supply collections, in
addition to other volunteer programs.
"The feeling that you get definitely makes up for an hour or
two of your time," says Crowl. "It's absolutely worth it."
LOOKING AHEAD

Neimeyer encourages employees to participate in mentorship
activities, which he refers to as "filling the pipeline."
"When our employees go out to high schools and talk about
STEM education, it helps us fill the pipeline by converting kids
one at a time," he says. "We're going to need these engineers in the

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