Mortenson employees joined others to help renovate TT Minor Elementary School in Seattle. Photo courtesy of Mortenson

Mortenson, the winner of the Contribution to Community Award, is so committed to helping those less fortunate that it created a community services team within the company. The team meets regularly to solicit suggestions from all company employees in order to ensure a variety of worthwhile causes are considered.

Mortenson’s Seattle office has been a supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for many years through monetary and personal contributions. Paul Cossette, Mortenson senior vice president, is currently vice president and past president of the Patrons of Cystic Fibrosis. The local office of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation holds an auction that is the largest single event fundraiser in Seattle, with net proceeds over $3.1 million, and the largest cystic fibrosis fundraiser in the country. Last year, Mortenson was a $10,000 sponsor of the event, contributed another $75,000 toward cystic fibrosis research and was a $10,000 sponsor of the Mariners Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament.

Over 90 company employees got together last year to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation by running in the Nordstrom Beat the Bridge race. Over $30,000 was raised for the event from donations by employees and subcontractors.

Mortenson also was involved with the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties’ annual community service project — held last year at TT Minor Elementary School. Over 25 company employees and family members joined more than 150 other volunteers to create new elevated gardens, paint the school and spruce up the landscaping.

The company even pitched in to help slain Des Moines police officer Steven Underwood’s family. Mortenson superintendent Steve Weaver and equipment facilities foreman Gary Flaskerud, a neighbor of the Underwoods’, helped organize a construction team to build a fence for Underwood’s widow so her 2-year-old son could have a safe place to play. The project was finished in two days. Donations also came from Home Depot, Subway and Papa John’s Pizza.

Other charities Mortenson contributed to last year include: United Way, Faith Lutheran School, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Foundation, AGC Annual Scholarship Fund, Friends of KCTS and Overlake Service League.