How Your Company Can Impact the Future of Children’s Cancer

In today’s world, companies are learning that having a corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy is no longer an option. Job seekers, especially millennials, look for it in the application process, employees feel empowered when they participate and it is a must-have for consumers. According to the 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study, 86% of Americans expect companies to do more than make a profit.

There’s no better example than long-time partner Kiewit Infrastructure, an employee-owned company whose core values lie in improving the lives of its workers and the surrounding community. Since it was formed in 1884, the company has grown into a Fortune 500 construction, mining, and engineering powerhouse that is well-respected, does high-quality work, and is dedicated to improving lives.

The company has helped improve thousands of lives through their annual fundraising events, which was inspired by employee Harry Koenigs‘ 8-year-old son, Jake, who passed away from rhabdomyosarcoma in 2006. Harry and wife, Robin, wanted to take Jake’s memory and strength and turn it into something that would give other pediatric cancer families hope. So, without hesitation, the Kiewit employee golf outing turned into an annual event known as Jakefest.

Since 2007, the event has raised over $2 million for children’s cancer research, and it is fully funding Dr. Ranjit Bindra of Yale University’s rhabdomyosarcoma research under the CureSearch Young Investigator Program and the Accelerate Initiative research grants. Now in its eleventh year, events have taken place in Cove Point, New York and Denver, and the Chicago event happens on July 29th.

Jakefest 2017

At these events, attendees experience an amazing day of golf followed by a luncheon, and they get to meet others also passionate about fighting childhood cancer. It’s a heartwarming and inspiring display of the human spirit, and it’s a forever reminder of young superhero, Jake.

Just take a look at some of the photos from the June 17th event in Denver:

Jakefest Denver 2017
Jakefest Denver 2017
Jakefest Denver 2017
Jakefest Denver 2017
Jakefest Denver 2017
Jakefest Denver 2017

It’s all because Kiewit cared enough to make children’s cancer research a focus of their charitable corporate giving.

We send a sincere “thank you” to Kiewit, the Koenigs, and everyone who has supported Jakefest, and we hope that more companies will consider changing the lives of children with cancer through corporate giving programs.

If you know of a company that may be interested in impacting the future of children’s cancer, contact Kelli Wright, National Director, Strategic Initiatives, at kelli.wright@curesearch.org.

Learn more about Jakefest here.

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