The DPR Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged youth reach their full potential, today announced 2015 grant awards to 17 organizations, which will collectively receive $900K. The Foundation will distribute $820K in grants to support local youth development programs and set aside an additional $80K in discretionary funds that will be disbursed regionally in the coming year.
The DPR Foundation was established in 2008 by DPR Construction, one of the nation’s top technical builders focused on highly complex and sustainable projects. Over the past seven years, the Foundation has awarded more than $4.2M to 25 organizations that provide vital community support to grade school- and high school-aged youth through structured, purposeful programming, including after-school support and summer educational modules.
“The strength of communities where we work is very important to us, not only because our company was founded on building lasting relationships, but also our understanding that we owe our own success to the vibrancy of the communities we partner with,” said Peter Nosler, co-founder of DPR Construction and president of the DPR Community Initiatives Advisory Board. “We are honored to collaborate with organizations that empower the next generation to grow and succeed.”
The 2015 DPR Foundation grantees are:
– 9 Dots (Los Angeles, CA)
– New Pathways For Youth (Phoenix, AZ)
– Playworks Northern California (San Francisco, CA)
– Playworks Arizona (Phoenix, AZ)
– Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta – Brookhaven Club (Atlanta, GA)
– Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (Riverdale, MD)
– Future for KIDS (Phoenix, AZ)
– Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods (ICAN) (Phoenix, AZ)
– Peninsula Bridge (Palo Alto, CA)
– Roberts Family Development Center (Sacramento, CA)
– TurningWheels for Kids (San Jose, CA)
– Seven Tepees Youth Program (San Francisco, CA)
– The Milagro Center (West Palm Beach, FL)
– LifeWorks (Austin, TX)
– John Avery Boys & Girls Club (Durham, NC)
– Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito – La Colonia Branch (San Diego, CA)
– Girls, Inc. of Orange County (Costa Mesa, CA)
Grant winners are selected annually by the DPR Foundation board and nominated by local DPR teams. In addition to financial assistance, DPR volunteers make an annual commitment to donate time and professional expertise to their local organizations.
“Our partnership with DPR is so much more than grant money,” said Becky Jackson, president and CEO of ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth. “DPR has introduced us to the business and cultural practices of Jim Collins and his book ‘Good to Great.’ They have been coaching us to grow our organization, setting ‘base camps’ and creating our ’20 mile march.’ These are all tools we would have had to hire an outside consultant for. The value has been priceless.”
The DPR Foundation measures the success and progress of these programs on an annual basis to ensure each grantee stays on mission and is achieving results. In California, where DPR partners with Girls Inc. to provide externship opportunities, 85 percent of program participants are proven to gain valuable job skills, develop career awareness and strengthen professional competencies.
