About - We Help Create Better Communities  Every day, Olsson Associates staff shape and enhance their neighborhoods and communities. Caring about the world we live in is not just a “9 to 5” job for our employees. That’s one of the reasons we started Community Builders, which encourages our employees to become involved in their communities on a deeper level.  Through Community Builders, our employees are invited to share their skills and expertise in ways meaningful to them—by serving on boards, participating in volunteer activities, joining professional and civic organizations, making charitable donations, and much more. We believe that being successful at work each day is just one facet of helping our staff feel fulfilled and productive.  To learn more about how Olsson Associates is creating better communities, e-mail us at communications@oaconsulting.com. A few of our Community Builders projects are featured below. Community Builders 2008 Springfield Staff Bowl for Kids’ Sake
 Staff from the Springfield office participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Bowl for Kids’ Sake on March 15 and fundraised $1,470 for the cause. Traditional bowling? Definitely not. As part of the fun, each frame had an activity such as holding hands, bowling between your team members’ legs, etc. Luckily, there are no injuries to report.
Olsson Offices Host Souper Bowls for Charity
 Denver Souper Bowl -- On January 23, the Denver office raised more than $400 for the Jeffco Action Center’s food bank at the first-ever Denver office Souper Bowl. With 10 outstanding soups, it was a tough decision for the voters. After the votes were counted, Amy Hickman (Denver Land Development), chef of the Zuppa d’Austano, was named the “Souper Bowl Champion.” In addition to a year of bragging rights, Amy was awarded the coveted “silver spoon” and a $50 gift card, which she donated to the Jeffco Action Center.  Community Builders 2007 Olsson's Holiday Giving
Many of Olsson’s offices stepped up to help provide to those in need during the holiday season. Some of the projects are listed below. Denver Donates Toys to Santa ShopFor the third year, the Denver office provided holiday cheer for the Jeffco Action Center’s Santa Shop, which distributes toys to thousands of low-income children in the community. Kansas City Provides Presents to Senior Living Center Kansas City Southland staff donated 132 gifts to residents at the Victory Hills Senior Living Center in Lenexa, Kansas. Staff also purchased numerous items to stock the Center’s recreation room, which was low on supplies. Lincoln Gives Gifts through Trees of Love The Lincoln office purchased gifts for 135 residents of The Ambassador, a Lincoln nursing home. The official Trees of Love program was eliminated through the City’s budget cuts, but the Olsson staff stepped up to provide gifts anyway. This is the third year the office has donated gifts to nursing home residents. Minneapolis Office Adopts Family The Minneapolis office adopted a family of four through the Salvation Army this holiday season. Through donations from the office, staff were able to buy gifts for each member of the family, as well as purchase a gift certificate to a local grocery store. Omaha Offices Adopts Family in Need The Omaha offices adopted a family again this Christmas. Staff bought gifts for three girls, ages 15, 9, and 6 months, who wouldn’t have otherwise had a Christmas this year. Gifts and donations totaled around $350. Phoenix and Holdrege Offices Donates to Toys for Tots The Phoenix staff brought in gifts for Toys for Tots, and the Holdrege staff donated $325 to the Phelps County, Nebraska, group. Olsson's Phoenix Staff Participate in Food Drive
 Olsson's Phoenix office participated in a food drive this November and collected more than 1,100 items to benefit the United Food Bank. Pictured at left are Megan Verburg, Marlene Plumey, and Jack Lynch Buckthorn Removal Volunteer Workday in Minneapolis
 Tim Gross (Municipal)  Tim Andersen (Sciences) and Scott Trosen (Survey) Working with the City of Burnsville, Olsson Associates’ Minneapolis office volunteered to clear the invasive shrub European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) from Terrace Oaks Park. European Buckthorn is one of the most invasive species found in Minnesota and contributes in many ways to the degradation of natural areas throughout the state. To date, the office was noted as one of the most motivated volunteer groups, and most successful at removing Buckthorn from the site. In time, the area the Olsson staff cleared will be restored as an Oak Savanna, a community of scattered oak trees once common in Minnesota. The Olsson group hopes to continue restoration efforts with the City of Burnsville. Olsson Staff Donate to United Way
 When he started Olsson Associates in 1956, John E. Olsson did so with a belief that he and those who worked for him should give back to those who are not as fortunate. United Way is one of the organizations the firm and our employees have supported from the earliest years of establishing Olsson Associates. Our firm continues to support United Way today and just completed a successful 2007 campaign. This year's campaign ran at the same time in all offices: August 20 – 24, and approximately $60,000 was raised firmwide. Supporting Relay for Life
The Manhattan, Kansas, office participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life August 24-25. Kansas City Staff Participate in Blood Drive
 Chip Corcoran The KC Southland office held a blood drive on August 22. Of the 30 people who donated, 17 were first-time donors, and 28 product units were collected. Olsson Lincoln Staff Participate in Food Drive Challenge
 Lincoln Water Resources Team Olsson Associates would like to recognize its employees’ generous donations during the annual Community Builders Food Drive Challenge. The Lincoln office donated 6,810 food items this year, filling the Olsson lobby at 1111 Lincoln Mall with mountains of macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables, peanut butter and jelly. Employees also made monetary donations to the food drive. Olsson’s 230 Lincoln employees were divided into 10 teams and received points for each non-perishable food item they donated, and the competition was intense. Teams gained extra points when they brought an item on the Food Bank’s high-need list. The winning team was Olsson’s Water Resources/Airports team, which donated 2,935 items. Nancy Evans, assistant executive director of the Food Bank of Lincoln, said, “We are very pleased with the sizeable donation and appreciate Olsson Associates’ ongoing support of the Food Bank and the Campaign Against Hunger.” |