What started more than 20 years ago with the donation of two
outdated appliances has blossomed into one Black and Veatch employee making a
world of a difference for one local domestic violence shelter.
Brent Rupp, a project electrical engineer at Black and
Veatch, has donated his time, goods and financially to Kansas City metro
domestic violence shelter, Hope House.
Now, through Rupp’s dedication to helping the non-profit,
Black and Veatch Building a World of Difference Foundation awarded Hope House a
$5,000 grant to help alleviate the negative effects of domestic violence and
inform the public about the issue.
“Hope House has always been appreciative of any help they
receive,” said Rupp. “It makes it a real joy to help in anyway. So, I’m very
happy to be able to present the donation to Hope House from Black and Veatch’s
Building a World of Difference Foundation.”
Rupp stated that throughout his involvement with the
non-profit, it is the positive attitudes of the staff and volunteers that keep
him coming back to help and made him want to do more through the Black and
Veatch Building a World of Difference Foundation.
“We are so grateful for supporters like Brent,” said
MaryAnne Metheny, CEO of Hope House. “His volunteerism and dedication serves as
encouragement for our team. The fact that he’s taken his efforts that extra
mile and acquired this grant shows his commitment to the issue, and the
survivors who need our services.”
Rupp has been a financial supporter of Hope House after
donating the kitchen appliances. And, for the past several years, Rupp and his
wife began volunteering. They have participated in Hope House’s Starlight and
Chilifest fundraisers. And, his wife, Mary, volunteered her own time and
encouraged their daughter’s Girl Scout Troop to donate time at the shelter as well,
while Mary served as troop leader.
“When I was looking to donate the appliances, I didn’t know
Hope House existed,” said Rupp. “But, my friend encouraged me to work with
them, and since then, Hope House has always been a place we support. The
relationship has really strengthened over the years.”
And, it strengthened despite a year on a different
continent. Between 2011 and 2012, Rupp was in South Africa working on a Black
and Veatch coal plant project. It did not take long for him to reach back out
to Hope House upon his return. After making it back to the States, he began
working with the Lee’s Summit Knights of Columbus and served as an acting
spokesman for Hope House.
“It is my hope that, in addition to the help the donation
will provide to Hope House and its mission, we may also raise domestic violence
awareness and the role Hope House plays to combat the issue,” said Rupp. “I
look forward to further involvement with Hope House and hope to build a
relationship with Black & Veatch and the professionals who may not be aware
of Hope House and the good they do.”
The Black and Veatch Building a World of Difference
Foundation was established with the aim of providing a platform for the company
and its professionals in supporting a variety of philanthropic organizations
like Hope House and other programs worldwide.
“Last year, Hope House provided more than 41,000 safe nights
in shelter, answered more than 5,400 domestic abuse hotline calls and provided
therapy to more than 420 survivors,” Metheny said. “The foundation grant will
go a long way to ensure we continue to help the survivors who have taken that
courageous first step to leave an abusive relationship.”
