“Giving back” is an integral part of SK&A’s culture, expressed not only through financial contributions, but also by team members volunteering their time, sweat, money, and talents to causes that support the communities where we live and work.
The Washington Building Congress (WBC) included a special “Members Giving Back” feature in the Dec-Jan edition of their Bulletin magazine. SK&A is pleased to be among those firms recognized for giving back to the community. As seen in the article, some examples of SK&A’s charitable activities in 2023 included:
JDRF Real Estate Games
SK&A staff joined hundreds of professionals from the Washington D.C. area design, construction, and real estate communities to raise money for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) research at the 2023 JDRF Real Estate Games. Fourteen SK&A team members competed in a variety of events including the Golf Challenge, Bouncy Ball, Big Trike Derby, Scavenger Hunt, Tennis, Swimming, Basketball, and “Puzzle Me This” (a jigsaw puzzle-solving race!) Altogether, this year’s event raised over $800,000 for finding life-changing therapies and, ultimately, a cure for T1D.
Rebuilding Together
On National Rebuilding Day (April 29th), teams around the country volunteered their time on home repair and rehabilitation projects that help low-income homeowners live in safety, warmth, and independence. Three of our SK&A staff joined with other members of SEA-MW (Structural Engineers of Metropolitan Washington) and Rebuilding Together to make improvements on a home in Washington D.C.
CANstruction
CANstruction DC, organized by the Washington Architectural Foundation, is a fundraising competition that collects tens of thousands of canned food donations while raising awareness about hunger in the DC area. Fourteen SK&A volunteers worked to design and construct a 1,161-can clawfoot bathtub CANsculpture called “Splish, Splash, Hunger’s Takin’ a Bath,” symbolizing our mission to wash away hunger one can at a time. The old-fashioned clawfoot tub contrasted with the rubber ducky toy was a reminder that hunger impacts the less fortunate of every age, young and old alike. After the event, all of the food was donated to the Capital Area Food Bank to feed the hungry in our community.
Salvation Army Angel Tree Program
Our Engineering Elves helped to fill Santa’s sleigh, as SK&A adopted five children for this year’s Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, which helps provide Christmas gifts for children (“angels”) in need. Our staff and their families went on a company-paid shopping spree to purchase approximately $300 worth of items on each child’s wish list. All of the presents were brought into the office for sorting by our Engineering Elves and then delivered to our local Salvation Army National Capital Area Command.
USASOA Cards for Our Troops
Based in Accokeek, Maryland, the United Soldiers and Sailors of America (USASOA) supports Veterans with unique programs, services, and events that have a direct and meaningful impact on their quality of life. From Veterans Day, through the end of November, SK&A team members penned heartfelt messages in holiday cards as part of USASOA’s “Christmas Cards For Our Troops” program. Those cards, along with gifts and messages from countless others, then made their way around the world to our dedicated servicemen and servicewomen deployed abroad. Our collective gratitude was packed in every card, aiming to bring smiles and warmth to these heroes away from home during the holiday season.
Additional Charitable Support
Additional charitable organizations and events that SK&A supported in 2023 include the American Heart Association, Gabriel Homes, Homestretch, Hope Connections, Magnusson Klemencic Associates Foundation, March of Dimes March for Babies, Martha’s Table, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Medical/Surgical Pavilion fundraiser, Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Northern Virginia Family Services (HRC), Virginia Tech Steel Bridge Team, Washington Architectural Foundation – CKLDP, and the Washington Project for the Arts.
