The Bridge Builders Award honors civic leaders who have formed partnerships across racial, social, economic and geographic barriers for the betterment of their communities. Through unique partnerships, these honored individuals and organizations pioneer program and projects that stand as great examples to the power and possibility fostered when people put aside differences and join together for a common goal.
The YMCA's Lockheed Martin Technology Centers The Lockheed Martin Technology Centers located within the South Orlando and Tangelo Park YMCAs represent the best of what happens when partners join together for the good of the community. In addition to providing fun, high-tech learning experiences for at-risk youth, volunteers from the YMCA, Lockheed Martin and Microsoft inspire students to become the future engineers and scientists of tomorrow. Like every YMCA Youth Development initiative, this program provides the after-school safety, values and mentoring kids need to thrive.
YMCA Links2Learning With a shared commitment to youth development and social responsibility, the Y and Lockheed Martin also team up to support the YMCA Links2Learning program. Through this partnership, the YMCA's Lockheed Martin Technology Centers at South Orlando and Tangelo Park enrich the minds and lives of Central Florida students, inspiring and encouraging them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These enriching programs impact over 20,000 students every year. One example of the programs' successes was introducing inner-city youth to a new sport ─ golf. The young program participants learn about the STEM skills behind the sport while the project also instills in the youngsters the qualities of civility, sportsmanship and values.
Jonathan Gamble, a computer science major at the University of Central Florida and Lockheed Martin intern, credits his educational success to the value of the Technology Center. "Through the Lockheed Martin/YMCA Technology Center, I didn't only grow to want to be in the engineering community, I became a part of it," Jonathan said. "The technology center gave me a place to learn more about engineering in a nice, safe setting with people with interest just like me, and my internship with Lockheed Martin successfully kick-started my career as an engineer."
Jonathan started attending the Technology Center's after-school program at the beginning of his high school career. With education and the help of mentors at the YMCA, he secured an internship at Lockheed Martin the summer before he began his computer science studies at the University of Central Florida.
"Jonathan was one of three Lockheed Martin interns hired from the Central Florida Technology Centers last year," said Quality & Mission Success Vice President John Varley. "All three will return this year with additional interns as we continue to grow this STEM-focused program."
The technology center continues to build lasting relationships with students to inspire them to pursue a technical degree in college, helping support our local community, workforce and country. From science experiments that teach students how to build paper airplanes and digital bridges to college preparation courses and tours at local corporations like Lockheed Martin, the technology centers enhance the curricula local students learn in their classrooms.
"The YMCA Technology Centers are helping develop the next generation of scientists and engineers to meet the needs of the United States and global security," said Varley. "By engaging these students in extracurricular STEM activities, we show them the real-world relevance of the concepts they are learning in the classroom."
The Lockheed Martin/YMCA program prepares students like Jonathan to excel in the classroom and community, developing well-rounded leaders for the future.
The Bridge Builders Award honors civic leaders who have formed partnerships across racial, social, economic, and geographic barriers for the betterment of their communities. Through unique partnerships, these honored individuals pioneer programs and projects that stand as great examples to the power and possibility fostered when people put aside differences and join together for a common goal.
Harris Ranch is a pedestrian-friendly 1,300-acre master-planned community located in south east Boise. This project embraces the concepts of New Urbanism and Smart Growth, managing a careful balance between new development and the protection of the environment, wildlife habitat, and historic values in the Barber Valley. The Harris Ranch development was approved through Boise’s first Specific District Ordinance for 2,600 residential units and over a million square feet of commercial/retail space.
Dallas Harris completed the first Master Plan for Harris Ranch in March of 1976. That vision was sustained for many years through the efforts of Dallas and his wife, Alta. Daughters Felicia Burkhalter and Millie Davis, along with their brother Randy, are committed to completing that vision to honor their parents.
Early in 2005, the Harris Family hired LeNir Ltd. as development manager and adopted as their mission statement, “In a timely manner, to profitably sell the assets of Harris Ranch in a professional and businesslike atmosphere, demonstrative of the Owner’s commitment to the environment, the community and their heritage.”
The Harris family and their team initiated a series of charrettes in a collaborative transparent atmosphere to collectively plan Harris Ranch with their neighbors, government agencies, and environmental groups. That collaboration and transparency continues.
Doug Fowler is the Founder, President, and CEO of LeNir Ltd., a company founded in 1982, specializing in real estate development, project management, owner representation, and real estate consulting. For over 30 years, LeNir has worked on a number of projects including land development, mid-rise office buildings, 12-story condominiums, and retail development. Doug and his firm continue a legacy of excellence with the Harris Ranch development.
The Bridge Builders Award honors civic leaders who have formed partnerships across racial, social, economic, and geographic barriers for the betterment of their communities.
The Inter-American Foundation is being honored for more than 40 years of work helping to fund development projects undertaken by grassroots groups and non-governmental organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on the inclusion of the society’s most marginalized communities. Since 1972, the IAF has awarded over $680 million in grants that have benefited hundreds of thousands of families. Robert N. Kaplan, president and CEO, will accept the award.
The Inter-American Foundation, created in 1972 by the Foreign Assistance Act, supports development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IAF is unique in that it exclusively funds grassroots, nongovernmental organizations, thereby elevating the role of communities and their residents in development and aid initiatives. The IAF remains an integral component of American foreign policy, fostering good relations with our Latin American neighbors.
Robert N. Kaplan is the current president of the organization. Prior to joining the IAF, Kaplan was the head of the Inter-American Development Bank, where he was responsible for aid projects in Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Central America. Kaplan has a distinguished career in international development and has manned the helm of one of the most important organizations bringing goodwill to the Western Hemisphere today, and we are pleased to present him with the Bridge Builders Award.
Jim Rogers is honored for his commitment to the environment and renewable energy programs in wind, solar, and policy development. As Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Duke Energy and with 22 years of experience in the electrical utility industry, Rogers is a leading figure of corporate responsibility for sustainable growth.
Peter Stein, 2010 recipient of Partners’ Bridge Builders Award, sat down recently with Hanover’s local newspaperto talk about his work at the Lyme Timber Company.The article explores Stein’s use of public-private partnerships in conservation efforts and his take on how preserving nature can be good for investors' bottom line.
You can read more of the article at the Valley News.
Also, check out our Bridge Builder award for Peter Stein.
