Culture

Strong Medicine

An earthquake in Haiti led to the creation of Build Health International—and a lasting partnership with Shawmut Design and Construction.
By Maggie Murphy
January 21, 2022
Topics
Culture

In the wake of yet another devastating natural disaster in Haiti, Shawmut Design and Construction and Build Health International, a global health infrastructure nonprofit organization, have come together to support relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts. Following the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on Aug. 14, 2021, leaving much of the infrastructure across the country’s southern peninsula damaged, the Boston-based construction management firm donated $25,000 to support BHI’s immediate relief efforts.

The Aug. 14 earthquake is the most significant natural disaster to affect Haiti since the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the island nation in 2010—the event that inspired the creation of BHI. After retiring as Shawmut’s CEO, Jim Ansara co-founded the nonprofit in 2013 to deliver sustainable, high-quality health infrastructure in low-resource regions around the world.

On the Ground

Since BHI’s early days, Shawmut has supported the organization’s mission by providing in-kind donations, volunteer work and industry expertise on projects around the world. This latest partnership comes at a critical time for Haiti.

“We are so saddened by the destruction this catastrophic earthquake has brought to Haiti, a country that has already seen so much devastation,” says Shawmut CEO Les Hiscoe. “We are humbled to contribute to Build Health International’s efforts to provide health-care infrastructure relief and repairs to hospitals, and we are proud to support BHI in the effort to help stabilize the region so badly upended by this tragic natural disaster.”

On the ground in Haiti, BHI mobilized its local team of engineers, electricians and technicians, while U.S.-based logistics specialists were sent to clinics and hospitals across the country’s southern peninsula, where they further assessed damage, evaluated safety and coordinated immediate repairs to ensure that patients received treatment as quickly as possible. Alongside local Massachusetts partners, including the New England Patriots and Gov. Charlie Baker’s office, BHI facilitated the shipment of medical supplies, deployed surgeons and set up a temporary trauma and surgical center at St. Boniface Hospital, centrally located in the damaged area.

Lasting Partnerships

As a company, Shawmut maintains a strong focus on building lasting partnerships—evidenced not only by the fact that 80 percent of the company’s business comes from repeat clients but also through its commitment to BHI and countless other charitable organizations. From employees putting in volunteer hours to executive team members serving on the boards of Rebuilding Together NYC, ACE Mentor Program, The Posse Foundation, Cradles to Crayons and Room to Dream Foundation—Shawmut lives its values from the top down.

Company founder Ansara planted the seeds of Shawmut’s commitment to community, setting the precedent for being a good corporate citizen. An active volunteer himself, Hiscoe continues today to engrain in Shawmut’s employees the importance of making a difference by encouraging them to volunteer within the communities in which they live and work. Shawmut employees contribute countless hours across charitable and community organizations, supported by the company’s annual paid volunteer day. And each year, Shawmut bestows the Ansara Commitment to Philanthropy Award on an employee who embodies the selfless spirit of community engagement.

“At the core of Shawmut’s philanthropic efforts is the example set by Jim Ansara’s long and storied history of selfless charitable work and humanitarianism,” Hiscoe says. “The firm looks forward to continuing to support its longstanding partners, foster new philanthropic relationships and find innovative new ways to engage with local communities.”

by Maggie Murphy

Maggie handles Construction Executive’s production, scheduling and digital assets, in addition to editing our print content and writing feature articles, industry new briefs and a variety of topical columns. She’s a native Marylander and a graduate of Salisbury University, with a background working on the marketing team for a large general contractor.

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