Hard hats, soft hearts are in abundance at Institutes for Discovery
Nighttime falls over the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery (WID), at center, and central University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, including the Union South Building on the right, during a time-exposure photo on July 26, 2011. The 300,000-square-foot WID building houses UW-Madison's public Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and the private Morgridge Institute for Research. Union South serves the southwest region of campus with a variety of dining options, meeting spaces and recreational opportunities. The stitched panorama photo was made from the roof of 1410 Engineering Drive. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)
A letter to the editor in The Capital Times – Oct. 11, 2010
The Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery on the UW-Madison campus will soon be occupied by brilliant scientists and eager students. For the time being, it’s home to hundreds of men and women who are busy putting the finishing touches on a stunning research facility.
Their craftsmanship is evident at every turn. Less visible is their equally impressive generosity and compassion. These carpenters, pipefitters, welders, electricians and glaziers are also generous benefactors.
For more than a year, general contractors J.H. Findorff & Son and M.A. Mortenson have supported Lily’s Fund for Epilepsy Research — a grass-roots organization that celebrates and supports epilepsy research at UW.
Each month, workers at the jobsite gathered for “Lily’s Lunches.” Food from area restaurants was provided by the contractors and subcontractors, and employees were invited to donate $5. All individual gifts were matched, dollar for dollar, by Findorff-Mortenson, and many people routinely tossed in a few dollars extra.
The final pulled-pork sandwich was just served, and we’re still tallying the thousands of dollars from Lily’s Lunches, but we’ve already surpassed all expectations, in terms of both financial gain and public awareness.
In the process of building a new research facility, Findorff-Mortenson helped its employees understand how science can change lives. Workers learned about the prevalence of epilepsy, the need for better diagnostic tools, and the promise of new medicines.
These heartwarming results are the byproducts of a very special corporate ethos, and the good folks at Findorff-Mortenson have shown us a textbook example of true community leadership.
Anne Morgan Giroux
Colleen Penwell
Lily’s Fund for Epilepsy Research