Community Involvement: Always Building at Barton Malow
Communities
The first week of August may include the hottest days of summer, but it’s also Barton Malow’s Community Week — when team members roll up their sleeves and apply their skills, energy, and passions to a myriad of charitable activities in the communities where they live, work, and play.
Conceived as part of the company’s 90th anniversary to broaden Barton Malow’s philanthropic initiatives, the very first Community Day invited all team members to volunteer for one day with charities across the country. The next year, based on the enthusiasm the idea generated, Community Day was expanded into an entire week of volunteerism, giving all team members a chance to spend any day that week serving various worthy causes.
The Giving Grows
Nearly a decade after its inception, the effect of Community Week can be felt around the country. In 2023 alone, the impact and results were impressive.
“We had 107 volunteer activities in two countries, 14 states, and we served 79 different charities, and we had about 850 volunteers providing a little under 4,000 hours of service,” said Barton Malow’s Senior Foundation Manager Dawn Lyman. In fact, from 2014 through 2023, volunteer activities grew from 19 to 107, with over 6,060 instances of Barton Malow volunteers sharing their energy and caring spirit in support to nonprofit organizations.
Empowered to Act
“One of the great things about Barton Malow is that we’re all empowered to go out and work in the community,” said Dawn. Team members are encouraged to choose the charitable activities close to their own hearts and are cheered on in their efforts by the organization.
For example, the Barton Malow team in Plant City, Florida, working on the new South Florida Baptist Hospital, decided to adopt the United Food Bank and Services of Plant City. Helping with the mission of “moving from a state of hunger to self-sufficiency and empowerment,” Project Engineer La’Toya Tyson and her team of 12 volunteers packaged about 1,500 bags of food, setting a new record for the food bank.
New Charities, New Opportunities to Serve
For Dawn and Barton Malow Foundation Coordinator Gabby Schefka, some of the best Community Week activities occur when one team member introduces a worthy organization and enlists many of their Barton Malow colleagues to volunteer. In 2023, three new Detroit-area charities were added that way.
• Marketing Systems Specialist Karly Gallis introduced Barton Malow team members to Big Family of Michigan, created to help children in need to know they are loved and to help prepare them to successfully face the world. Barton Malow volunteers put together kits of school supplies for children living in foster homes.
• Oakland County Animal Shelter was introduced by Leader of Special Projects Kim Moore whose husband volunteers at the shelter. Barton Malow team members made treats, stuffed adoption folders, and heaped plenty of love and care on the shelter’s dogs and cats.
• With a mission to build dedicated athletes for the future, the Plymouth/Canton Little League and Communications Manager Eric Fish teamed up with other Barton Malow volunteers to clear out weeds and clean up the baseball fields.
“One of the best things about our job is seeing those connections and seeing our people get to bring their passions and their philanthropic work that had happened outside of the office. And now it’s part of the office, too,” Dawn said.
Gratitude From the Heart
The successes of Barton Malow’s Community Week are measured not only in the philanthropic activities of team members across the country but also in hearing back from the many charities they’ve touched. Just reading through the myriad of thank-you notes proves that gratitude runs in both directions.
“Your efforts are so valuable, saving us thousands of dollars each year collectively, which in turn means the Food Bank is better equipped and positioned in our mission to help eliminate hunger right here at home. You make a difference! Thank you.”
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank | Charlottesville, Virginia
“Saying THANK YOU does not even BEGIN to scratch the surface on how much we truly appreciate your assistance in putting up the SHED! We are blown away by the dedication and talent that each participant provided. The shed was a two-year dream for us – and it came true!”
Rainbow Connection | Rochester, Michigan
“Barton Malow, you did all the things our shelter needed help with and more! From making enrichment treats for every single dog in our building, helping with laundry, stuffing adoption folders, walking and spending quality time with our shelter pups and also making such a difference with socializing with our cats!”
Oakland County Animal Shelter | Pontiac, Michigan
From repaving entrances to be more accessible for those in wheelchairs to providing backpacks and school supplies to underprivileged children, Community Week at Barton Malow touches so many lives, in so many places, and in so many ways. From all the energy and devotion demonstrated during the first week of the hottest month of the year, it’s abundantly clear that Barton Malow team members are not just empowered but totally committed to making lives better in their communities.
MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Instead of focusing on a project, this episode of Barton Malow’s Said Differently Podcast highlights a partnership nurtured by our dedication to community building and collaboration. Barton Malow and Habitat for Humanity have long partnered during our annual Community Week. Listen to Senior Foundation Manager Dawn Lyman, Habitat for Humanity Deputy Director of Philanthropy for Oakland County Dena Vatalaro-Pryde, and Habitat for Humanity Recipient Autumn Butler as they discuss the impact both organizations have had on communities, Autumn’s story, and how to get involved.
