Community Projects
The Construction Partnership and its members have been part of the community for several years. We believe that by supporting the community in different ways we can help make a difference in the quality of life for our neighbors. Here are some examples of our charitable community involvement.
Past Projects
Good Samaritan Dental Clinic
In Oct 2001, a partnership of Olmsted County Public Health, Zumbro Valley Dental Society, the Salvation Army, Rochester Community and Technical College, Olmsted County Social Services and Mayo Clinic began the process of developing and planning to implement a low-income dental clinic. This community dental clinic, for Olmsted County, would provide basic dental services to those unable to access essential dental services due to financial constraints. In Nov 2001, Construction Partnership, Inc. was approached by Mayo Clinic asking for our support to help renovate the building.
Mayo Clinic purchased the old Safelite Auto Glass property and donated the building to the Salvation Army for the new dental clinic. The board members of Construction Partnership were proud to accept the challenge as general contractor for the renovation of the building. This was by far the largest community service project Construction Partnership Inc. has been asked to assist in for our community.
Renovation of the building began in March of 2002 and was a true community effort. The Salvation Army sponsored the project and assisted in the fund raising, Olmsted County officials supported the project through grant applications, local union contractors graciously donated materials and the use of equipment, and local union construction workers volunteered over 1,520 work hours.
The project was completed in May of 2002, ahead of schedule and way under budget. A phenomenal 90 percent under budget! The total bill for the complete renovation of the building ended up to be only $9,760.05! Thank you to all you helped or contributed in any way to the Good Samartian Dental Clinic, because of you, ‘the dream came true’.
The Salvation Army manages the operations of the clinic and began seeing patients the first week of June 2002.
Thanks to all of you, our community is a better place for all to live.
Rochester's Century High School sign
 I was asked in the spring of this year if I knew of anyone who might volunteer their time to construct 2 masonry piers for a Century High School stone sign that was donated by the graduating class of 2000. I asked Don De Keyrel, of Construction Partnership, if he knew of anyone. He gave me Mark Caron's name and phone number. Mark was very willing to donate his time to lay the 2 block piers that would support the sign.
Alvin E. Benike, Inc. donated the block for the piers and the sign was set in place by Rich Bakken and his crew.
Seasons Hospice Play Set
 Thanks to the generosity of Drs. Jonathan and Mary Evans and Construction Partnership, Seasons Hospice families now have a beautiful spot for children to spend some play time. When Dr. Jonathan Evans, Medical Director of Seasons Hospice, accepted a position in Virginia, he and his wife decided they wanted to donate their children's Rainbow play set to the Hospice House. This presented a dilemma for the staff of Seasons, who were anxious to have this play set available for the children and grandchildren of their hospice families. The play set, measuring 20 feet by 10 feet, needed expert help to get to its new home. That is where the expertise  of Construction Partnership was needed. Pam Schaid, Administrator of Season Hospice, called Don De Keyrel at CPI asking for his help or advice to relocate the play set. Don indicated that this was just the kind of project that CPI had the interest and willingness to offer as a service to community organizations.
After coordination efforts through CPI, the date to move the play set was set. The crew assembled at Dr. Evans' home to begin the task. The play set was partially disassembled, carried to the flat bed in large pieces and began the journey to Seasons Hospice. Within an hour, the play set was  reassembled in its new location, set in the shade with a view of the pond. A picnic table, also donated by the Evans family, completed the play area. The positive attitude and willingness of the volunteers to make this endeavor a success overcame the heat and humidity of the day.
Seasons Hospice provides home hospice care and residential hospice services to persons living with terminal illness. Seasons serves six counties in southeastern Minnesota. The focus of hospice is comfort of quality of life at the end of life when a traditional medical approach is no longer appropriate or desired. Hospice affirms and cherishes life, helping each person live each day to the fullest extent possible. The staff at Seasons Hospice expresses their gratitude to CPI for helping to bring joy into the lives of their patients at the Hospice House by helping to create a pleasant spot for families to spend time together.
-Pam Schaid
Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial Wall
 In 1965 the Vietnam War had been going on for quite some time. Support for our sons and daughters in that far away land was eroding rapidly. Demonstrators at home and abroad were continuing at an alarming rate. Many factors including our Vietnam war strategy, put our troops in a position where we could not win.
When our heroes who answered their countries call arrived back in the United States, they were treated shamelessly by many of the very people they were serving. It was a sad time in the history of our country.
In 1965 the Rochester Jaycees spearheaded the adoption of the 173d Airborne Brigade. This project was designed to show our support for our sons and daughters who were serving their country so far away from home. This quickly became a city wide project. Jaycees, nurses, girl scouts, boy scouts and the entire city became involved. Items that could be used for health and cleanliness were collected, filling two train boxcars for shipment to Vietnam and the 173d. Rochester was the second city in the nation to show support for our Vietnam Veterans by adopting a Vietnam fighting unit.
It was not until the 173d returned to Rochester for their annual reunion in 1995 that Rochester found out how important the adoption was some 30 years earlier. Rochester gave the returning 173d heroes the welcome that they so richly deserved. The 173d participated in the Rochesterfest parade and all along the parade route the entire city stood and honored those returning heroes.
The Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial that you see today, is the result of the seed planted in 1965 that started to grow in 1995. The original idea to have a memorial plaque honoring the 173d grew to include every significant conflict from our Civil War to the Golf War. Reminding us all that the freedom we enjoy is not free.
Stewartville High School Handicap Accessible Restroom
 During the summer of 2000, Stewartville High School received a new handicap accessible restroom courtesy of Construction Partnership, union construction contractors, and local unions.
When the Stewartville Special Education courses moved into a new room at the high school, new handicap accessible restroom facilities were needed.
As in the past, Construction Partnership believes in giving back to the community that we serve. Therefore CPI volunteered to handle the construction and installation of the restroom facilities.
With the donations of materials and labor from Rochester contractors and unions, the project was completed with no cost to the school district. This allowed the Stewartville Special Education program to purchase a much-needed stacked washer and dryer and a refrigerator with a water and ice dispenser in the door in order to better serve the needs of the students.
The Heat Goes On Program
 The Heat Goes On program was developed because there was a need for the elderly, low income and families with special needs to have clean and safe operating furnaces. Since 1990, the Construction Partnership professional union servicemen have volunteered to check and clean hundreds of furnaces in the homes of these neighbors.
The Cub Scout Adventure Camp
The Construction Partnership has always been concerned about the youth in our communities and realizes that kids need to grow up in a positive environment. For that reason we have financially supported the construction of the Cub Scout Adventure Camp enabling all youth in this area to enjoy and socialize in positive scouting activities.
Habitat For Humanity
 If there is a Habitat Home being built or refurbished the Construction Partnership and the local union trades pitch in and lend a hand. We feel that by supporting those in need you'll help those who want to help themselves -- which helps grow a healthy community.
Preserving the Historical Stoppel Farmhouse
 Looking back at our past has always been a way of learning. The Olmsted Historical Society holds much of the areas historical information including actual exhibits such as the George Stoppel Farmhouse. The Construction Partnership has agreed to help preserve this building by replacing a failing roof which will enable visitors to experience what the lifestyle was a hundred years ago.
Women's Open
The Construction Partnership, along with KTTC, established the American Cancer Society's Women's Open Golf Tournament in a effort to raise funds for breast cancer education and research. We believe that our sponsorship has helped many women learn more about breast cancer and become more aware of the warnings signs and steps they can take to protect themselves. The American Cancer Society's Women's Open Golf Tournament continue as an annual event in Rochester.
Honkers
 The Rochester Honkers have helped the Northwoods League become one of the premier summer collegiate baseball leagues in the nation. Volunteers from local union construction trades and union contractors helped the Honkers home get a facelift with the addition of partially enclosed luxury box seats, an additional utility press box, as well as a new concession stand.
Skate Park at Graham Arena
 Construction Partnership realizes that the teenage population in our community needs to have places in which to pursue their interests. For that reason, when local teenagers approached the Rochester Park and Recreation Department with the idea of building a skate park, and then raised the money to do so, local union contractors did the work at cost. The Skate Park at Graham Arena is a great place for skateboarders and in-line skaters to practice their skills and make friends who have similar interests.
Ronald McDonald House
 In 1993, the union construction industry was approached by Linda Bono, the Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House. The mission was a new house for Rochester. With a $50,000 donation from the Rochester Labor Temple, donated materials from A. E. Benike Construction, volunteer labor from union craftsperson, and a community fund drive, the new Rochester Ronald McDonald House was occupied in 1995. Due to the growing need, expansion is under consideration. As partners, we'll be there.
|
