News

Terracon Foundation Announces Grant to Partners for Parks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Terracon Foundation awarded a $2,500 community grant to the Partners for Parks Foundation that will be used to build a playground by volunteers of the organization, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, and other Community Partners in memory of the victims of the Newtown tragedy.

Terracon Foundation community grants support local nonprofit programs that Terracon employees are actively involved with in the communities where they live and work.

Partners for Parks is a nonprofit, nonpartisan support group that seeks to promote and enhance parks, greenways, open space, and recreation in neighborhoods throughout Mecklenburg County and the surrounding region. The group achieves this by protecting, maintaining, and expanding park resources for communities.

Andrew Kennedy, P.E., senior project manager in the Terracon Charlotte Office, applied for and presented the grant to Partners for Parks. Al Brown, treasurer for the Partners for Parks Foundation and Michael Kirschman, deputy director of Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, accepted the grant.

"Partners for Parks sincerely appreciates Terracon's generous donation, which supports the construction of this important Newtown Playground at Park Road Park," Brown said. "The children in surrounding neighborhoods will enjoy this new playground, and our entire community appreciates Terracon's support and partnership with Partners for Parks."

The Terracon Foundation was established in 2008 and expanded considerably during 2012 to provide a broader range of grant opportunities. The Terracon Foundation also provides national partner grants, university grants, and employee dependent scholarships. During 2013, the foundation awarded grants of more than $375,000.

"Every great community is anchored by a strong Parks and Recreation Department," Terracon employee, Kennedy said. "It is our honor to support the construction of the new playground and we appreciate the opportunity to give back to the parks community."

Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 3,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices in 40 states nationwide. Terracon currently ranks 38th on Engineering News-Record's List of Top 500 Design Firms. For additional information about Terracon, please visit www.terracon.com.

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Terracon Foundation Announces Grant to Olathe Northwest High School

OLATHE, Kan. -- The Terracon Foundation recently awarded a $2,500 community grant to Olathe Northwest High School Debate and Forensics Program to assist the group in reaching its organizational goals during 2014.

Terracon Foundation community grants support local nonprofit programs that Terracon employees are actively involved with, in the communities where they live and work.

The mission and vision of the high school program is: Kids making our world better through debate and forensics. During 2013, the Olathe Northwest High School Debate and Forensics Program ranked 16^th nationally out of more than 3,000 programs.

Kristi Tahmasiyan, SPHR, corporate services department manager in the Terracon Corporate office in Olathe, applied for and presented the grant to the organization. Josh Anderson, head coach of the debate and forensics team accepted the grant and expressed his appreciation.

"Thank you for the corporate gift. Our world often laments about a generation of school age children that appear to be disconnected, disengaged, and disinterested," Anderson said. "Our students test that notion and reveal themselves to be the next generation of leaders in all walks of life."

Anderson added that the grant will be used to help cover the overall costs in reaching its organizational goals. As the economy makes it more challenging for state and local governments to fund non-essential programs, it is companies like Terracon that have stepped up to ensure that the students in the program can continue their passion for competitive speech and debate.

The Terracon Foundation was established in 2008 and expanded considerably during 2012 to provide a broader range of grant opportunities. The Terracon Foundation also provides national partner grants, university grants, and employee dependent scholarships. During 2013, the foundation awarded grants of more than $375,000.

Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 3,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices in 40 states nationwide. Terracon currently ranks 38th on Engineering News-Record's List of Top 500 Design Firms. For additional information about Terracon, please visit www.terracon.com.

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Terracon Foundation Announces Grant to Neighbors Along the Line

TULSA, Okla. -- The Terracon Foundation recently awarded a $2,500 community grant to Neighbors Along the Line that will be used to support the organization's charitable activities.

Terracon Foundation community grants support local nonprofit programs that Terracon employees are actively involved with, in the communities where they live and work.

Neighbors Along the Line is a nonprofit organization that has served the residents of west Tulsa since 1976. The group's mission is to meet basic needs by providing opportunities for development and increased independence through free public services including a medical clinic, a food pantry, GED and literacy programs, a community library, and senior outreach.

Drew Cowan of the Terracon Tulsa office applied for and presented the grant to the organization with Mike Homan, regional manager. Mindy Tiner, executive director of Neighbors Along the Line, accepted the grant and expressed her appreciation.

"Neighbors Along the Line is so appreciative of Terracon's support of our efforts to improve not only attitudes toward education in our area, but success rates as well," Tiner said. "We understand that a love of learning starts with children, and we appreciate Terracon's support in making that happen."

Tiner added that the funding will specifically be used to purchase materials for tutors and students, to acquire GED Preparation materials for adult learners, and to fund some activities for the group's Summer Reading Program. This program focuses on reading and learning overall, and the grant will assist Neighbors Along the Line in supporting science activities that they have wanted to do in the past, but did not have the funding to do so.

The Terracon Foundation was established in 2008 and expanded considerably during 2012 to provide a broader range of grant opportunities. The Terracon Foundation also provides national partner grants, university grants, and employee dependent scholarships. During 2013, the foundation awarded grants of more than $375,000.

"This is the first time I have been involved in something like this and it has been a great experience," Terracon employee Cowan said. "Neighbors Along the Line does great work and I am so glad that we could help them out."

Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 3,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices in 40 states nationwide. Terracon currently ranks 38th on Engineering News-Record's List of Top 500 Design Firms. For additional information about Terracon, please visit: www.terracon.com.

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Terracon Foundation Announces Grant to Junior Achievement

BATON ROUGE, La. -- The Terracon Foundation recently awarded a $1,775 community grant to Junior Achievement (JA) of Baton Rouge that will be used to promote the interest of local high school students in careers related to science, technology, engineering, and math.

Terracon Foundation community grants support local nonprofit programs that Terracon employees are actively involved with, in the communities where they live and work.

Junior Achievement is the world's largest non-profit dedicated to helping young people own their economic success. In the Greater Baton Rouge area, 17,000 K-12 students participate in JA financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs each year. JA is a student focused, volunteer led organization connecting the classroom to the "real world."

Lisa Smith, client development specialist in the Terracon Baton Rouge office, applied for and presented the grant to Junior Achievement. Paula Bradley, JA senior education manager, accepted the grant, and Kathy Arnes, JA area president, expressed her appreciation.

"We are grateful to Lisa and the Terracon team for being a JA Job Shadow host.  In our area, workforce shortages in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields are on the rise," Arnes said. "However, because of community partners such as Terracon, teenagers are able to spend the day 'on the job' and explore career opportunities available to them in the areas of science and engineering right here in Baton Rouge."

The Terracon Foundation was established in 2008 and expanded considerably in 2012 to provide a broader range of grant opportunities. The Terracon Foundation also provides national partner grants, university grants, and employee dependent scholarships. During 2013, the foundation awarded grants of more than $375,000.

"Last year, we hosted JA high school students for a JA Job Shadow program for the first time, and the students were excited to learn about job opportunities and roles at Terracon," Smith said. "After the program, one of the students joined the Terracon team as a part-time employee. We look forward to continuing to inspire next generation engineers and scientists through our partnership with Junior Achievement."

Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 3,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices in 40 states nationwide. Terracon currently ranks 38th on Engineering News-Record's List of Top 500 Design Firms. For additional information about Terracon, please visit www.terracon.com.

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Terracon Foundation Announces Grant to Cy-Hope

HOUSTON -- The Terracon Foundation recently awarded a $2,500 community grant to Cy-Hope that will be used to help the organization fund various charity programs in the local Cypress-Fairbanks (Cy-Fair) area.

Terracon Foundation community grants support local nonprofit programs that Terracon employees are actively involved with, in the communities where they live and work.

Jeff Roberts, P.E., office manager in the Terracon Houston office, applied for and presented the grant to the group. Lynda Zelenka, executive director of Cy-Hope accepted the grant.

"Cy-Hope is in the business of changing lives of the children in Cy-Fair," Zelenka said. "Terracon's donation to Cy-Hope is very much appreciated."

Cy-Hope is a multi-faceted charity that provides for the health and welfare of children in the Cy-Fair area. The group sponsors various programs and activities like the Adopt-a-School Program, which offers volunteers who focus on empowering children to long-term self-sufficiency through mentoring and tutoring.

Roberts noted another success story about the Cy-Hope Backpack Program that provides food for needy school children each weekend.

"A majority, 65 of the 80 schools in the Cy-Fair district, are served by the program," Roberts said. "Last year alone, Cy-Hope served over 2,000 kids by sending food each week to hungry families via colorful backpacks."

The Terracon Foundation was established in 2008 and expanded considerably in 2012 to provide a broader range of grant opportunities. The Terracon Foundation also provides national partner grants, university grants, and employee dependent scholarships. During 2013, the foundation awarded grants of more than $375,000.

Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 3,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 140 offices in 40 states nationwide. Terracon currently ranks 38th on Engineering News-Record's List of Top 500 Design Firms. For additional information about Terracon, please visit www.terracon.com.

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