Black & Veatch Foundation Supports 150 Organizations in 2024, Including Causes Focused on Human Trafficking, STEM Education
Company also marks 35th anniversary of partnering with United Way, having contributed nearly $30 million cumulatively
Following Black & Veatch’s annual fundraising drive last fall, the 9th largest U.S. employee-owned company announced that its 35-year support of United Way has cumulatively reached approximately $30 million nationally, donated by its employee-owners and the Black & Veatch Foundation. The company also has announced that its Foundation and employee-owners volunteered their time, resources and also financially contributed in 2024 to more than 150 organizations worldwide.
The contributions benefitting United Way chapters across the United States include Kansas City — home of the company’s global headquarters — as well as regional offices in Denver, Detroit, Houston, Phoenix and elsewhere in the United States. United Way functions as a community action network that focuses on local investments in youth opportunity, healthy community, financial security and community resiliency.
Funds from this year’s United Way campaign will be used for community initiatives such as the United Way-supported “211” service that connects more than 15 million people across the United States and Canada with locally available resources for crises and urgent needs. They also will go towards programs such as the “United Way Born Leading” initiative that equips parents, caregivers and communities to create early learning opportunities for children.
Richard Horne, associate vice president for Black & Veatch and a United Way employee campaign manager was the recipient of Black & Veatch’s first “CEO Culture & Employee Ownership Award,” recognizing his more than five years leading the annual giving campaign for the company. “The passion and excitement of our employee-owners around this campaign continues to be strong and grow every year. Our relationship and connection with United Way is something Black & Veatch professionals are proud to be a part of,” Horne said.
“Black & Veatch has a strong history of actively participating in giving to organizations that serve our communities, with a key company focus on building a world of difference,” said Black & Veatch Chairman and CEO Mario Azar, a member of the United Way of Greater Kansas City’s governing board of trustees. “As our company grows, so does our capacity to contribute. Our annual giving is symbolic of the hearts of our employee-owners and ultimately the purpose of the company.”
In addition to the employee-owner led donation campaign to United Way, the Black & Veatch Foundation has also contributed to 150 non-profit organizations in 2024, submitted and advocated for from Black & Veatch professionals globally.
The contributions by the Foundation focus primarily on U.S. nonprofit organizations, with benefitting non-profits such as:
Engineers Without Borders builds human infrastructure around the world that meets community’s needs.
Center for Advanced Professional Studies paves the education-to-employment path through profession-based learning.
ReHope provides trauma-informed counseling life coaching, holistic wellness and other life programs for survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
The reach also expands globally into South America and Asia Pacific, including organizations such as:
Pratthanadee Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand, which provides free training, mentoring and career guidance to more than 3,000 undereducated and economically underprivileged women and girls.
International Justice Mission, which partners with local authorities in 33 program offices in 19 countries to combat trafficking and slavery, violence against women and children and police abuse of power.
Other company initiatives include programs such as “Christmas in October,” in which employee-owners have refurbished 700 homes and counting for families in the Kansas City area. Professionals volunteer nearly 2,000 hours annually as part of the effort.
Editor’s Notes:
Learn more about the Black & Veatch Foundation here.
Learn more about what United Way does in your community here.
The inaugural CEO Culture and Employee Ownership Award recognizes a professional who embodies Black & Veatch values, sets a standard for others and impacts their community.
Black & Veatch professionals, Richard Horne, Jennifer Burkland and Mike Orth were recognized as the Employee Campaign Manager(s) of the Year during United Way of Greater Kansas City’s inaugural Waymaker™ Awards in July.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Follow us on www.bv.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.
Media Contact Information:
MEGHAN LOCKNER | +1 201-977-1628 | Media@bv.com