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RK Foundation
Committed to building better lives by investing in education, health and human services in the communities we live and work.
Since 1963, RK has had the privilege of supporting numerous non-profit and charitable organizations that improve the quality of life in our community. RK has been dedicated to providing financial support for organizations that help people in need.
Established in 2011, the RK Foundation is directed by the Kinning family and oversees our charitable efforts, which are generated from recycling scrap metal from projects across our seven business units. The foundation allocates grant funding to local nonprofits and causes that align with our focus areas of community development, education, health and human services.
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RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
RKF MAKES ANNUAL VETERANS DAY DONATIONS AT PROMISE RANCH AND UTAH HONOR FLIGHT
Each year on Veterans Day, RK gives to non-profits that help veterans. This year, our Colorado veteran employees selected Promise Ranch Therapeutic Riding (PRTR). Kirk Petry, Estimator for RK Electrical, recently presented the check on behalf of the RK Foundation.
PRTR Board President, Melissa Edelman said,
"On behalf of the Board of Directors of Promise Ranch Therapeutic Riding, I thank you so very much for the generous donation of $5,011. It is only with the kindness of organizations like yours that we are able to help our riders. It is greatly appreciated!
We help veterans and people with disabilities. The benefits of equine therapy are amazing, and frankly miraculous."
Our Utah veteran employees chose Utah Honor Flight, which was suggested by Jeffrey Rodgers, Safety Superintendent.
The mission of the Honor Flight organization is to enable veterans to travel to Washington, D.C. and visit the war memorial built in their honor. Veterans pay nothing for this once in a lifetime experience. Utah Honor Flight has made it possible for over 1,500 veterans to take an Honor Flight. For most veterans, visiting their war memorial is a truly profound experience and gives them the opportunity to remember, a time to cherish, honor and also heal.
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Left to right: Jenny Hanson, PRTR Board Member, Melissa Edelman, PRTR Board President, Kirk Petry, RK Electrical, and Patchie.
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Utah Honor Flights made it possible for this World War II veteran to be greeted by a military receiving party at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.
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Donnie Hirschfield presenting the check to the CU Denver team.
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RK FOUNDATION SPONSORS ASPIRING
ENGINEERS MINDS
The competition challenges collegiate students to supplement their education with real-world experience. Teams determine how to fabricate a scale model bridge and plan for an efficient assembly under timed construction at the competition.
RK Steel helped the team incorporate efficient, constructible design, as well as provide materials and fabrication for their model bridge.
The CU Denver team
visited our Henderson location for a tour and check presentation.
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THE RK FOUNDATION HELPS TO MEET THE HIGH DEMAND FOR ADDITIONAL WORKERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
The Master's Apprentice c
onstruction training program
is all about changing lives for the better. Since 2013, this non-profit, pre-apprenticeship program has improved the lives of young adults by offering a bridge to a career in the skilled trades. The pre-apprentice programs include carpentry, electrical, HVAC/sheet metal, plumbing/pipefitting and masonry.
The program also helps fill the huge demand for additional workers in the construction industry. Each session is seven weeks and offered at no-cost to the students. In fact, the students receive a small stipend while attending the program, along with career coaching, interview preparation and life skills training. The Master's Apprentice has 90% job placement upon graduation for their students. All the program instructors are volunteers with years of experience in the trades. For more information, here is a short video.
The RK Foundation is proud to support the great work of The Master's Apprentice.
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2019 Fall graduating class. Everyone is very excited to go start their new careers! The Master's Apprentice Program runs five, seven-week courses throughout the year.
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The RK Foundation presented the first donation to the HERO Fund at our annual company picnic.
Pictured: Jon Kinning, Katie Dell, Marcee Kinning,
Rick Kinning,
Robert Cheney, Russ Sullivan and Donnie Hirschfield.
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RK FOUNDATION SEEDS NEW EMPLOYEE HARDSHIP FUND
for RK employees and immediate family members when they experience a hardship and need financial assistance. Employees dealing with an unexpected life event (medical emergency, the death of a family member, major housing or transportation issues) can apply for
one-time financial assistance of up to $2,500. The primary source of funding for the new hardship fund is from RK employees by direct donation, weekly payroll deduction and special fundraising events.
Why is it called the HERO Fund? The name signifies that we can be a hero to our fellow RK family members in their time of need.
HERO stands for:
H
- Helping
E
- Employees
R
- Rebuild, Recover, Restore, Renew, Repair, Return, Rally and...
O
- Overcome
The HERO Fund is part of the RK Cares Foundation, a new public non-profit (separate from the RK Foundation), that was established to support our community, RK employees and the philanthropic programs at RK. The HERO Fund is administered by a separate Board of Directors and all requests for funding and grant decisions are kept strictly confidential.
The inaugural hardship grants from the HERO Fund were distributed in December.
"Thank you so much to everyone that made the HERO Fund possible. I am very grateful for the help following a house fire where I lost almost everything," said Rodrigo F., the first recipient of a HERO Fund grant.
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FALL 2019 FUNDING AND GRANT RECIPIENTS
The RK Foundation has granted
$231,394 since January 2019 with a cumulative total of $1,764,538 to date! Each quarter, the RKF Board of Directors reviews grant applications and determines which organizations best align with our core advocacy areas and our mission.
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G
RANT RECIPIENTS - SEPTEMBER 2019 THROUGH DECEMBER 2019
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Watch for our next RK Foundation newsletter highlighting winter 2020 accomplishments,
donation recipients and program highlights!
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