Every year, commercial real estate organizations across the Valley give back and the industry as a while gives back to their communities. This year, Willmeng Construction changed its annual Builders Cup golf tournament to be a fundraiser for Treasure House, an organization that raises money for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the first year of doing this, Willmeng raised more than $300,000. They also contributed $30,000 to Bunks Across America, a project dedicated to delivering beds to children in Phoenix. These charitable efforts are important to companies such as Willmeng Construction.
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“At the heart of Willmeng’s culture lies the desire to do more than our fair share. This means not only exceeding our customer’s expectations but also being an active contributor to the communities we serve. We believe strongly in nurturing deep relationships among our clients, partners, and trade contractors, which affords us many opportunities to build a better community,” says James Murphy, CEO of Willmeng Construction. “One way Willmeng unites as a company to impact the community is by focusing on philanthropy, supporting more than 75 organizations in recent years and donating funds and countless volunteer hours to the community.”
Other commercial real estate companies share the same passion of giving back to their communities and improving the lives of those in need. Here are several other organizations that have done their part to raise money and create a lasting impact for communities in Arizona.
LŌkahi
Lōkahi, the traffic engineering firm behind the creation of Lōkahi Teams (a non-profit providing financial assistance for youth sports), hosted the inaugural Lōkahi Teams Carnival in spring 2024. With over 7,000 attendees, the four-day event kicked off with Mesa Mayor Giles, the entire Mesa City Council, and support from Mesa Public Schools. Dobson High School’s fields were transformed into a vibrant carnival, featuring 20 full-size thrill rides, kiddie attractions, game booths, and food trucks — a true community celebration that welcomed people of all ages.
The carnival raised vital funds to support Lōkahi Teams’ mission: removing financial barriers for young athletes and making sports participation accessible to all. Since its founding in 2021, Lōkahi Teams has supported over 500 students, and this event elevated that mission even further. Together, Lōkahi and Lōkahi Teams are empowering and investing in the next generation.
Rise48 Equity
Rise48 Equity’s charitable efforts in 2024 focused on enhancing local communities through substantial donations and volunteerism. Rise48’s philanthropic organization, Rise Up Give Back, partners with various local organizations that support children in need through donating time, money, and resources.
This year, Rise48 volunteered with the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where their team created over 300 hygiene and coloring kits as well as made tie blankets for children and their families at the hospital. The team also hosted students from REV Academy’s Intro to Business Creation & Entrepreneurship group at their corporate office, where they provided young entrepreneurs with tools and resources to succeed.
Most notably, the Rise48 team donated thousands of backpacks and school supplies during their 3rd annual Rise Supplies Back-To-School Events at all 42 communities across Phoenix, Dallas and Charlotte. Residents were encouraged to pick up free back-to-school essentials, including backpacks, folders, notebooks, pencils, rulers, highlighters, and more. The Rise Supplies events were created to help alleviate the financial burden that parents often face when buying school supplies.
These philanthropic initiatives reflect Rise48 Equity’s commitment to giving back, aligning with their core mission of making a positive impact in the neighborhoods where they operate.
Kovach
Kovach is one of the nation’s largest integrated designers, manufacturers, and installers of high-quality panel and glazing systems for commercial building enclosures. Since its founding over 50 years ago, Kovach’s leadership has always placed a high importance on its philanthropic initiatives and has partnered with various nonprofits and continues to provide support to the community via monthly community impact days (volunteering, fundraising and providing donations).
Some of the organizations it has partnered with include: ICAN of Arizona (providing free after school care to children in low-income communities), Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Support Sky Harbor Coalition (sustainability of airport development and surrounding communities), American Red Cross, Feed My Starving Children, Arizona State University’s Del E. Webb School of Construction, American Subcontractors Association, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that builds beds for children in need in the Valley. Kovach also proudly provides college internships.
On the leadership team, President Brad Wright, and his wife founded the nonprofit organization The Wishbone Foundation, which provides support and training for healthcare professionals working with families going through stillbirth and early infant death, after the death of their daughter, Mackensie, in 2011.
Suntec Concrete
Suntec’s Heroes in Hardhats is the overarching theme for all of the philanthropic efforts that the firm undertakes. The biggest program under the Heroes in Hardhats umbrella is Suntec’s Teacher Appreciation program. This unique initiative adds a very personal touch to honoring deserving teachers. Suntec employees nominate their children’s teachers who are making an impact in their lives. After the teachers are selected, Suntec works with the principals at each school to create a wish list of items that the teacher needs in their classroom. Suntec then purchases those wish list items and surprises the teacher with an event at their school. The employee who nominated the teacher and Suntec executives are on hand to present the teacher with the wish list items and say thank you for their impact on the students. In 2023, Suntec presented more than $300,000 worth of school supplies and equipment to more than 100 deserving teachers in three states.
Also, under the Heroes in Hardhats umbrella, Suntec employees support the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and take part in charitable events around the community, including the American Heart Association Heart Walk, the Run to Fight Cancer and the Arizona Builders Alliance Toy Drive.
PENTA Building Group
The PENTA CARES Foundation, the charitable arm of general contractor The PENTA Building Group (PENTA), raised $65,000 for local nonprofit Home Base Arizona during its very first Charity Golf Classic in Arizona. The event took place in Scottsdale and saw participation from golfers representing a wide range of companies, vendors and clients. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Arizona is home to over half a million veterans. Nonprofit Home Base Arizona is committed to serving the demand for comprehensive wellness and behavioral health care services for all Arizona veterans as well as active-duty service members, military families and families of the fallen, at no cost to recipients.
“It’s our privilege to enhance our communities, especially for an organization that is doing its part to aid in the health care of our veterans and active-duty service members. A heartfelt thank you to our clients, trade partners, vendors, and PENTA CARES volunteers for making it such a success,” says Marisa Palomo, Arizona vice president at The PENTA Building Group. “Our employees and partners in our network made this inaugural event possible, and we’re excited for the many more impactful years to come.”
