COMMUNITY
HB Construction donates $500K to UNM, community groups
Company lends its support to the UNM School of Engineering, nonprofits and other groups, as it marks 35 years
It鈥檚 an anniversary for HB Construction, but the company鈥檚 the one gifting the community.
The Albuquerque-based construction firm has given $500,000 to the community as it marks its 35th year in business.
The largest donation 鈥� $350,000 鈥� is going toward the University of New Mexico School of Engineering.
Zach Gruen, HB鈥檚 incoming CEO, said the anniversary is not just a milestone, but an opportunity for the company, which also has offices in Las Cruces and El Paso, Texas, to give back.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about giving resources that we鈥檝e been entrusted with and that we鈥檝e earned over the years, and allowing for those resources to expand and give more opportunities for those within our community to thrive,鈥� Gruen said.
UNM鈥檚 School of Engineering will use the donation for an endowment to support retention and attract faculty to the school.
鈥淔or us, it鈥檚 a way to really catalyze student interest in the construction industry and get quality faculty here to UNM,鈥� said Donna Riley, UNM鈥檚 dean of engineering.
Other organizations that received donations last week were the Associated General Contractors of New Mexico, the Associated Builders and Contractors of New Mexico and the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance. They were each given $35,000.
The remaining money is going toward community safety nets, including organizations such as the Veterans and Families Foundation, the Albuquerque Public Schools Education Foundation, ALS New Mexico and the Central New Mexico Community College Foundation.
Katie Crouch, the CEO of ALS New Mexico, a nonprofit dedicated to providing support, comprehensive care and vital resources to New Mexicans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, said she was grateful for the funding.
鈥淕rants like the one HB is giving us today go directly back into our programs,鈥� Crouch said. 鈥淭hat money will also go directly back into patients鈥� pockets.鈥�
Over 35 years, HB Construction has built Columbia Elementary School in Las Cruces and ABQ BioPark鈥檚 Penguin Chill exhibit.
HB Construction wasn鈥檛 always in a position to give back.
鈥淭here were a lot of hard times as we were trying to get our feet under us, but I can tell you the second HB Construction was in a place to give back, that was something critically important,鈥� said Jason Harrington, the company鈥檚 current CEO.
Harrington, who has served as CEO since 2005, is stepping down from the top role next year.
鈥淚 think (donating) does help solidify for future leaders that this is who we are,鈥� Harrington said. 鈥淗opefully, as we grow over the years, our ability to impact and give back continues to grow.鈥�
Isabella Campbell is an intern with the New Mexico Local 近距离内射合集 Fellowships and Internships Program, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across New Mexico. Learn more at . She can be reached at icampbell@abqjournal.com.
