Transportation Firms; Agencies Honored for Community Engagement

Transportation design and construction firms and public agencies from across the country were recognized for “excellence in community relations and public education” during the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) 2013 PRIDE Awards dinner program, held June 3 in the nation’s capital during the association’s Federal Issues Program.

Established in 1999, the PRIDE Awards honor outstanding programs that enhance the image of the transportation design and construction industry. An independent panel of public relations professionals and journalists reviewed nominations and selected the winners in these categories:

Heavy construction firm O.C. Jones & Sons was honored for creating “TLC for Kids Sports” to help underserved communities in northern California improve youth sports “one field at a time.” In addition to partnering with local volunteer groups to clean up parks, the “TLC for Kids Sports” joined forces with radio station KNBR 680AM to host annual contests where winners received much-needed renovations for their youth sports facilities. The donated work included renovations to multiple dugouts, backstop and score booth reconstruction, painting, electrical and landscaping, as well as significant renovations to the playground, basketball court, snack bar, fences, and horseshoe pits. Over the last four years, the program has mobilized over 800 volunteers, renovated over one million square feet of fields and parks, and has contributed to nearly 9,000 children playing on safer fields.

The Shelly Company, which provides vertically integrated asphalt, aggregates, ready mix, construction and paving, was honored for its themed truck program “Rolling Billboards” in 2009 to provide charities throughout Ohio with free advertising and community outreach for their events and fundraisers. Employees help choose the charities and drive the trucks, which can be seen on local roads, county fairs and parades. Last year, the company’s 20 themed trucks participated in more than 40 community events, and its employees donated nearly 140 volunteer hours to efforts such as the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life Chili Cook-Off” and the Make a Wish Foundation’s 1.5-Mile Walk. In addition, the Shelly Company and its charity partners communicate upcoming events through the local news media, social media and newsletters to maximize the program’s exposure.

Other companies honored included the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge project in Virginia, and Tilcon New York, a division of Oldcastle Materials, was honored for its “Community Involvement Program.”

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