Press Releases
Messer Foundation to Present $75,000 in Grants in 2009
(July 02, 2009)
Cincinnati, Ohio – Messer Construction Co. announces that the Messer Construction Foundation has selected three organizations to receive $25,000 grants through its annual program.
The 2009 recipients were all sponsored by Messer employees, recommended by a committee composed of Messer employees, and approved by the Foundation Board of Trustees. More than 80 applications were received and considered, resulting in the selection of the following organizations:
• Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton offers interactive educational opportunities in science, culture, and nature for people of all ages. The organization annually serves approximately 250,000 visitors and hosts dozens of classes from local schools. The Messer Foundation grant will underwrite and help purchase materials for the construction of a new eco-friendly “house” exhibit that will showcase energy efficiency and sustainability while creating opportunities for related educational activities.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis (BGCI) provide a safe, educational and positive atmosphere for young people to learn and grow in five core areas: Education & Career Development, Character & Leadership Development, Health & Life Skills, the Arts, and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. The Messer Foundation grant will be used at BGCI’s Lilly Club in the Fountain Square neighborhood to provide materials, equipment and labor to renovate the front desk/reception area and to replace the gym floor, creating a better environment and a better experience for the participants.
• A unique award was presented to the Greater Cincinnati Foundation for the purpose of aiding the homeless. The homeless population in Cincinnati has grown 150 percent over the past 15 years and during these turbulent economic times this grant will help address some of the challenges facing this underserved population.
Criteria for the grants include the expected return on investment to the community; the positive change expected from the Foundation’s investment; and Messer employee engagement and individual support for the organization. Each application must be endorsed by a Messer employee who will jointly sign the grant application.
“The Foundation is designed to support our employees who engage within the communities where they live, work, and raise their families,” said Kathleen C. Daly, president of the Messer Construction Foundation and chief financial officer of Messer Construction Co. “As an employee-owned company, we know the importance of vibrant communities and will continue to invest in them.”
The Messer Construction Foundation was created with two objectives. The first is to administer major financial gifts in the form of $25,000 grants to employee-recommended community organizations through a disciplined application and review process. The second is to administer multi-year gifts from the company. Since its founding in 2005, the Foundation has contributed nearly $700,000 to community organizations across Messer’s four-state region.
About Messer Construction Co.
Messer Construction Co. is a regional construction manager and general contractor providing leadership for complex commercial building projects in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Founded in 1932, Messer has built a premier reputation through outstanding construction experiences and value with a focus on healthcare, higher education, and senior living. An employee-owned company, Messer ranks nationally as one of the Top 100 largest contractors as well as a Top 40 green contractor. Messer was honored with the 2009 International Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence by the Council of Better Business Bureaus for superior commitment to exceptional standards that benefit customers, employees, suppliers and surrounding communities. In 2008, Messer put in place approximately $670 million in commercial construction.
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