Photo courtesy of Lease Crutcher Lewis Lewis project engineers volunteered at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, where they taught engineering and construction concepts to an after-school club.

Last year was a milestone for Lease Crutcher Lewis, which celebrated its 125th anniversary.

The company has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest commercial construction firms. Lewis commemorated its achievements by following a tradition established by founder N.T. Lease himself: giving back to the community.

Lease “believed so strongly in supporting his community that he became mayor of Great Falls, Montana,” said Lewis CEO Bill Lewis.

“The Northwest region has been good for us and we are proud to continue the company culture of giving back to the communities where we do business.”

For its 125th-anniversary philanthropy campaign, Lewis was awarded the 2012 AGC-Moss Adams Service to the Community Award.

The philanthropy campaign had four major components: corporate giving, a client donation program, a community service project in Tacoma, and a 125 percent matching program for employee giving. The goal was to inspire support for local nonprofits and give at least $125,000 to the community — a target that was more than doubled.

An employee had suggested that instead of throwing an expensive 125th-anniversary party for clients, the company donate the money to local charities. Lewis sent a mailer to business partners promising to donate $125 (and in some cases $1,250) to the YMCA, Seattle Parks Foundation, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center or another nonprofit of their choice.

The campaign was well received, garnering comments such as “This is a spectacular way to celebrate a significant milestone.”

Lewis typically offers to match $500 per year for each employee. In 2011, the company offered 125 percent of that amount, and a record 43 percent of employees participated.

Lewis project engineers volunteered at Tacoma’s Lincoln High School in an after-school club for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies, where they taught students engineering and construction concepts for six weeks. Students were also treated to a job tour at Via6, a two-tower apartment complex under construction in Seattle.

Lewis has donated $125,000 to Washington STEM. Ruby Love, chief development officer for the organization, thanked Lewis for its efforts at a fundraising event.

“We are so fortunate to have the generosity of companies like yours who share their resources and talented staff with the students and teachers in Washington,” she said. “Your story has already caused two companies that were in the room to say that they want to do the same thing as your team.”

Elaine Ervin, a partner at Moss Adams, presented Lewis with the AGC-Moss Adams Service to the Community Award.

“Lewis inspired communitywide philanthropy as employees, clients and colleagues gave their time, their voice and their dollars to many important causes,” she said. “N.T. Lease would be proud.”