Developing Tomorrow's Leaders

Freese and Nichols understands that the young scholars of today will become the leaders of tomorrow. We are committed to providing programs, services and resources to schools and educational providers.

Freese and Nichols reaches out to support and encourage schools in our community. Through Fort Worth Independent School District’s Adopt-a-School Program, we host top reader lunches and provide volunteers and speakers for school events at South Hills Elementary School and Wedgewood Middle School in Fort Worth. In addition, this year marked our 15th year as a host in the Vital Link Program, a week-long, summer internship for upcoming seventh grade students to connect the classroom to the workplace. In recognition of our commitment to schools, Freese and Nichols was awarded the Golden Achievement Award for Partnership Excellence for the 2010-2011 school year. We are humbled to see how our active support of programs in local schools can provide resources for future generations.

This year, Freese and Nichols also sponsored both a Young Women’s Career Day and a Young Men’s Career Day. Relatives and close friends of Freese and Nichols’ employees attended the separate events for a real-world look into careers offered at Freese and Nichols. With inspiring lectures, adventurous site visits, hands-on projects and employee office tours, the students were encouraged to dream big. In addition, attendees learned about the importance of volunteerism, mentoring, life-long learning, and self respect and value. This unique experience inspired and encouraged the young men and women, as well as equipped them with tools to succeed in their future personal and professional lives.

We CAN Do It!

CANstruction® is an international effort that supports local and regional competitions to challenge architects, engineers, interior designers and students to create huge sculptures made from cans of food. The Fort Worth area CANstruction® competition food structures are donated to the Tarrant Area Food Bank to serve families in need in Tarrant County and 13 surrounding counties (after exhibition and judging). As a result, thousands of local hungry people are fed, a greater awareness of the issues surrounding hunger is brought home to the public, and a spotlight is placed on the design and construction industry giving back to the communities it helps build.

Freese and Nichols holds an internal fund raising campaign each year to raise money for the cans needed to complete the team’s structure. Employees donate $10 for a case of cans, and in a typical year, the campaign raises approximately $4,000-$5,000, enough money to build the structure.

Freese and Nichols has participated in CANstruction® for 11 consecutive years and has received recognition for our CANstructures® at the local and national level. We have been honored with the Structural Integrity Award, Jurors’ Favorite Award and People’s Choice Award locally, and we have competed at the national level twice, winning awards in 2003 and 2006.

Summary of Community Involvement

Community service is a firm tradition and one of our firm’s guiding principles: we give back to our communities. Through partnerships with non-profit organizations, the Freese and Nichols team does more than serve our communities; we are stewards for them. We build relationships, dedicate time and take action in the communities we serve. Currently, 45 Freese and Nichols employees serve in leadership positions for civic organizations.

As we celebrated Freese and Nichols’ 110-year anniversary in 2004, we asked employees to record their community service hours. The program was such a great success that we decided to continue logging community service hours as an annual program.

In 2010, our 116th year of service, we recognized community service volunteers as a group at our annual meeting, and for each employee who met or exceeded 116 community service hours, Freese and Nichols donated $116 to the charitable organization of their choice.

By The Numbers, 2010

Organizations Served: 217

Hours Volunteered: 7,520

Hours Volunteered Since 2004: 50,339