KBE Building Corp. Helping Connecticut's Neediest Residents with $2,000 Gift to Hands On Hartford

Online, April 24, 2014 (Newswire.com) - As part of its hands-on charitable giving program 50 Ways to Make a Difference, KBE Building Corporation has donated $2,000 to Hands On Hartford, a direct service program that provides food and housing opportunities to the city's neediest residents.

Launched in 2009, KBE's 50 Ways to Make a Difference program celebrates the $300 million construction firm's new ownership by long-time senior executives Mike Kolakowski, Eric Brown, and Simon Etzel, and its corresponding name change to KBE Building Corporation from Konover Construction Corporation.

"After Eric, Simon, and I bought the company in 2007, we wanted to increase KBE's charitable efforts - especially because the company was already known for generosity," said Mike Kolakowski, KBE president and principal owner. "By starting 50 Ways in 2009, we also honored our company's 50th anniversary."

Since 2009, KBE staff members have donated more than $1.2 million and 5,000 volunteer hours to benefit charitable organizations in Connecticut and Maryland.

Hands On Hartford helps needy residents through several programs, including MANNA, which provides meals for the hungry; Peter's Retreat, which helps HIV/AIDS sufferers acquire housing; and the Backpack Nutrition Program, which provides 280 local children with healthy, easy-to-prepare foods for the weekend.

KBE's $2,000 donation will help Hands On Hartford continue to achieve its mission, which includes feeding hungry children, seniors, and homeless residents and providing emergency food and assistance.

KBE not only donates to Hands On Hartford - its staff also volunteers with the organization. Each month, several KBE employees prepare backpacks for the Backpack Nutrition Program. In 2011 and 2012, KBE employees helped feed local residents by serving at the Community Meals soup kitchen once a month throughout the year.

"It's been a pleasure working with Hands On Hartford as part of our 50 Ways charitable giving program," said Eric Brown, KBE senior vice president and co-owner. "Our staff has enjoyed making a difference by helping this organization."

Brown and KBE executive assistant Dianna Laderoute presented the $2,000 check to Hands On Hartford executive director Barbara Shaw on April 21.

A high-resolution photo suitable for print can be found here:

http://impactmarketingandpr.com/press/KBE-Hands-On-Hartford-Donation-April-21.jpg

CAPTION:

From left: Eric Brown, Senior Vice President and owner, KBE Building Corporation; Barbara Shaw, Executive Director, Hands On Hartford; and Dianna Laderoute, Executive Assistant, KBE Building Corporation.

About KBE Building Corporation

Regionally located in Farmington, Conn., and Columbia, Md., KBE Building Corporation is a full-service, single-source commercial construction company strategically positioned to serve the Eastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Founded in 1959 and incorporated in 1966, the firm provides preconstruction, construction management, design-build, and general contracting services to clients in the educational, senior living, federal, corporate, hospitality, health care, institutional, and retail markets. KBE has managed more than $2.5 billion in construction volume over the last decade and is ranked among Engineering News-Record magazine's top 400 construction companies nationally. Learn more at www.kbebuilding.com.