“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Sachse Construction has been giving back to the community since its inception in 1991. From raising more than $1,000,000 over the last 20 years at our annual charity golf outing Play it Foreward, to supporting skilled trade workforce development initiatives for over 3,000 Detroit youth through the Sachse Construction Academy, to volunteering across the City, our team members thrive on giving back!

In 2020 we made our commitment official with the establishment of the Sachse Social Mission (SSM) Committee. The team member committee is run like a Board of Directors and volunteer their time to lead the philanthropic charge for our company.

With a mission of contributing to a thriving Detroit by empowering and investing in organizations that support youth, workforce development, and community, the SSM committee spearheads fundraising, volunteer efforts, and not for profit partnerships.

In April 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sachse Construction gifted five (5) $50 Amazon Gift Cards (a total value of $250) to each of our 250 team members as a small token of appreciation for their dedication through the challenging and uncertain times. The message accompanying the Amazon gift cards read:

“Please use these funds not only to help yourself but to help others in need. We all know someone who is navigating without an income and we all encounter people on the front-line risking their lives to service us every day. Whether it’s a grocery store worker, a mail person, or a healthcare worker, anyone could use a random act of kindness in their life at this time.  Let’s take some of our good fortune and pay it forward.”

The outpouring of generosity was overwhelming. Sachse Construction team members sent and delivered care packages including everything from food to basic necessities to Emergency Room doctors and nurses, children in foster care, out-of-work bartenders, teachers, essential workers, and so many more. The collective experience during this time of economic hardship was a powerful reminder of the positive energy generated by giving to others without an expectation of receiving anything in return.

In July 2020, after the killing of George Floyd, our world changed dramatically. To stand in solidarity of justice and equity for all, the SSM Committee launched the Sachse Social Justice Challenge to support local Detroit social justice organizations working on the front lines of the movement.

Within 24 hours, the Sachse Social Justice Challenge raised over $4,000 to support the work of the following social justice organizations: Black Lives Matter Detroit, Detroit Justice Center, Downtown Youth Boxing Gym, Humble Design, Neighborhood, Defender Detroit, SAY Detroit, The Bail Project, and The Empowerment Plan.

In September 2020, to ensure Detroiters have a safe place to call home, the SSM Committee launched the inaugural Sachse Virtual 5K Run/Walk to benefit the Habitat for Humanity Critical Home Repair Program and help low-income homeowners fund their most acute house repairs before winter.

Two of every five families in Detroit live in sub-standard or condemned homes. Burdened with the ongoing economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, families who live in these unsafe and unstable homes make impossible decisions every day to either pay for food, medicine, or urgent house repairs.

Over 50 team members participated and donated to the fundraiser – many walking together from Sachse Construction’s Headquarters to Hart Plaza and back, raising over $580. An additional $5,000 donation was made from Sachse Construction to help families safely remain in their homes during this critical time.

Through all of the uncertainties that 2020 has thrown at us, there have also been silver linings. This year, the Sachse Construction team member community raised $2,585 and the SSM Committee donated a total of $17,590 to support the following 14 local Detroit, not-for-profit organizations through in-kind, financial, and volunteer initiatives:

1. Black Lives Matter Detroit
2. Cass Community Social Services
3. Detroit Justice Center
4. Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program
5. Empowerment Plan
6. Forgotten Harvest
7. Habitat for Humanity Detroit: Critical Home Repair Program
8. Humble Design
9. L!FE Leaders
10. Life Remodelled
11. Neighborhood Defender Detroit
12. SAY Detroit
13. Southwest Solutions: YouthBuild Pre-Apprenticeship Program
14. The Bail Project

If you know a Detroit based 501c3 organization doing important work supporting youth, workforce development, and community, please contact the Sachse Social Mission Committee Co-Chairs: Samantha Ardelean (sardelean@sachse.net) and Monica Minor (mminor@sachse.net) to get involved.