Employee Network Group Members Lead HDR Foundation Grants

Members of HDR’s Employee Network Groups will lead 24 HDR Foundation grants totaling more than $220,000.

This marks the second year of the program, which is designed to support the goals of HDR’s eight ENGs that help create an inclusive and supportive environment.

Kari Lawson, architect at HDR, sponsored a grant to Spirit of Aurora to fund supplies for Aurora Fire Rescue’s Camp Spark, an immersive three-day summer leadership camp for middle school and high school girls.

“This grant means that Camp Spark can continue to provide a tuition-free, supportive space where young women and women of color can grow, learn and lead,” Lawson said. “At its core, this camp is about building a community of inclusion where diverse voices are not just welcomed, but actively encouraged to contribute.”

Another grant sponsored by Ezio Zhang, design coordinator at HDR, will introduce Native youth to creative coding through The School of Architecture’s Creativity, Culture, and Code educational workshop.

“The proposed workshop put forth by TSOA has the potential to make a real impact in local native community and address the issue of the significant digital skills gap,” Zhang said. “This could usher in a new way of expanding teaching methods to new formats of experiential learning, particularly by engaging with Native American communities and other partners.”

Estey Masten, senior community engagement specialist at HDR, sponsored a grant to the Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth. The funds will provide transportation to participants seeking services and participating in Youth Leadership Committee activities in downtown Boston.

“This organization is important to me because we at HDR deeply care about serving our communities, and this funding is a tangible way to demonstrate our commitment to the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth in the Boston area,” Masten said.

Read more about the latest grants.

About the HDR Foundation
The HDR Foundation provides grants to qualified organizations that align with HDR’s areas of expertise: education, healthy communities and environmental stewardship. As an employee-funded and employee-driven foundation, preference is given to organizations located in communities in which HDR employees live and work, and those with strong employee involvement. Since its inception, the HDR Foundation has provided more than $9 million in grants to over 350 organizations.

About HDR
HDR is a 100% employee-owned professional services firm. Founded over a century ago to bring electricity to a changing world, we are now a global company specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services. Our success in built and natural environments continues as we collaborate to solve our clients’ and communities’ most complex challenges.