Tighe & Bond funds engineering services for two local non-profit organizations

Date: 11/15/2011

WESTFIELD — Earlier this month, Tighe & Bond awarded $100,000 of pro bono engineering and environmental services to two nonprofit organizations. The dollar amount of the services — which will be split between the Boys & Girls’ Club of Greater Holyoke Inc. and the Big Pond Preservation Association/Horizons Inc. — is earmarked to support a specific noteworthy project for each group.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke Inc. in Holyoke, Massachusetts intends to use Tighe & Bond’s pro bono services to conduct a site assessment and implement plans for a year round outdoor recreational, nature and education center at the former Mt. Tom ski area in Holyoke. The club’s goals are to foster awareness and appreciation for the environment, enhance the educational and outdoor experience of youth and other visitors, and increase the use of this protected conservation area by youth and school systems.

The Big Pond Preservation Association and Horizons Inc. in South Windham, Conn., will use the pro bono services to study and repair Big Pond’s dam spillway to preserve the pond and protect the surrounding area. In addition to being valued by the general public, Big Pond is crucial to Camp Horizon, which offers boating and water activities to special needs children. Camp Horizon is the only private, nonprofit residential camp in Connecticut.

As part of Tighe & Bond’s 100th anniversary celebration, the firm established The Centennial Project to identify two worthy projects for non-profit agencies in need of Tighe & Bond’s services. This past spring, Tighe & Bond published a request for proposals that non-profit organizations, which operate within the primary regions the firm serves, could complete if they were interested. A seven-person selection committee, comprised of client representatives and Tighe & Bond employees, then evaluated the proposals and chose these two organizations from the applicant pool.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to provide assistance to both of these great organizations,” said Fran Hoey, the senior vice president at the firm who is overseeing the initiative. “Both of these projects clearly address a pressing community need and align closely with Tighe & Bond’s vision of building stronger communities and preserving our natural resources.”