Building Strong Communities, Together
Making a Positive Impact
Our dedication to excellence extends beyond just the scope of a project. We are committed to making our communities vibrant and comfortable for all. Our core belief that we should build more than buildings guides our organization's mindset, and we take pride in giving back generously. We understand that by helping establish successful communities, we all benefit. It's not just the right thing to do, it's what we're passionate about.
Giving Generously
At Knutson, we sincerely believe in being good corporate citizens — we know that working and living in our communities is both a responsibility and an opportunity. That’s why we’re always ready to put our topnotch problem-solving skills to the test to enhance the lives of those around us.
So, for years, we’ve given our time and talents to the communities we live, work, and play in. Whether our team members are offering helping hands at nonprofits they care about or we’re furthering community initiatives with monetary donations, you can count on Knutson to make a positive impact.
What's New with Team Blue
Below, you'll see firsthand the type of work we do in our communities and beyond. Whether you're seeing the friendly faces of our Minneapolis + Rochester teams or the hardworking hands of our Iowa City office, you can be sure that we are striving to make a difference in all that we do, wherever we are.
Restoring a Home
For several years, Team Blue Minneapolis has come together in the fall to participate in Hearts & Hammers, an event where volunteers restore the homes of low-income homeowners. Fall 2023 was no different!
To begin the volunteer efforts on the homeowner’s property in Crystal, a few field personnel from Knutson jobsites came out to work on the home’s roof and improve landscaping, making further exterior renovations possible for the more than twenty office staff who showed up the coming week. Those volunteers worked on all sides of the house by scraping finish and repainting the entire home before the day was done.
“It has been great to see how much the Hearts and Hammers program has grown in popularity throughout the years at Knutson,” said Jacob Garr, Project Manager. “Being able to help out local homeowners is an amazing way for us to be able to give back as a construction company. It never fails that after each program day we do as a company, every single one of our volunteers will comment on how fulfilling it was to witness how genuinely appreciative the homeowner is once they get to see the final product of their house.”
Fighting Hunger
In August 2023, members of Team Blue Rochester gathered together to help pack over 280 boxes for Channel One Food Bank’s mobile food shelves. The Rochester team frequently helps at Channel One, a non-profit that serves people experiencing hunger in 14 counties throughout southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin,
“By volunteering at Channel One Food Bank, we know we are directly contributing to fight hunger and ensure that everyone in our community has access to nutritious food,” said Stacey Albers, Office Manager of Knutson’s Rochester and Mankato offices. “Not only is this rewarding to our team, but it is a great team building exercise everyone enjoys!”
Feeding Families
A long-time friend to the Ronald McDonald House, Knutson’s Iowa office staff and superintendents made a home-cooked dinner for those staying at the Iowa City RMDH. The meal was enjoyed by families who have children staying at the Children’s hospital nearby, whose stays can be as little as 1 day or as long as 244 days.
“Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House was a truly humbling experience,” said Megan O’Neil, Project Coordinator. “Life is busy for all of us. We tend to get lost in our own lives and we forget the struggles that others are dealing with daily. Not only are these children sick and away from their homes, but their families also struggle with the difficulties that come with caring for a sick child. It may have only been 1 meal that we provided for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, but the gratitude was palpable. Helping others and devoting our time to this organization not only supplied us with a sense of pride, but we had a ton of fun while we were there together as a team! I think we can all say we look forward to the next opportunity to volunteer!”
Building More than Buildings
Knutson’s dedication to the empowerment of women in construction shown strong as representatives from both Minneapolis and Rochester teams took part in a two-part Habitat for Humanity Women Build event in August. The event was a great opportunity for Knutson to support a family, learn new skills, and allow fellow team members to connect by helping with tasks like taping, painting, and installing flooring at a housing development in Minneapolis.
“I am proud to be part of an organization that believes in providing resources, support, and opportunities to uplift the communities that we serve through the Habitat for Humanity Women Build event,” said Ana Lowery, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, who coordinated both volunteer days. “I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to contribute my time and skills to such a wonderful cause. It was truly inspiring to see the power of teamwork and determination in action [at the event]. Each task brought us closer to creating a safe and stable home for deserving families.”
How We Give
Knutson Construction and members of Team Blue support several organizations and programs in the communities where we live, work, and play. Beginning in 2016, we even committed to being members of the Minnesota Keystone Foundation. This program promotes corporate philanthropy by recognizing and honoring companies that donate at least 2% of their pre-tax earnings to charitable organizations. We are proud to be part of this group of companies, and know our donations mean a great deal to the incredible organizations and non-profits that receive them.
Who We Help
We believe being good corporate citizens means giving generously to the people and organizations that make our communities great. As a part of this commitment, we have contributed to various organizations over the years, each of which aligns with our values and mission. Below is just a small sampling of the organizations and community groups we are proud to support and will continue to support in the future.
