News Detail

Join the One-Thousand-Donor Challenge

6/1/2021

In last month’s President’s Memo, I discussed my intent to commit ACI to the goal of improving concrete construction productivity, which has languished for decades. I explained that a Productivity Task Group is developing recommendations that will soon be presented to the ACI Board of Direction. Although still premature, several of these recommendations may require meeting a challenge common to most industry initiatives: funding. But thanks to the dedication of many people, our very own ACI Foundation provides a potential funding source for not only the construction productivity initiative but other initiatives as well.

I served as an ACI Foundation Trustee in the 3 years preceding my ACI presidency. I am incredibly proud of the Foundation’s growth in supporting industry research, students, and innovation during that time, and I am committed to supporting and promoting the mission of the ACI Foundation during my presidency. From what I see in my daily work, I know that there is still more to do to create progress in the concrete industry.

I want to thank Jeff Coleman, my predecessor as ACI President, for building greater awareness around the ACI Foundation and helping raise over $1.3 million during his presidency—an incredible accomplishment! I am excited to build on this momentum, and to do so, I want to underscore the importance of the ACI Foundation’s current objective, which is to secure 1000 donors by the end of my presidential term in March 2022. For the ACI Foundation to sustain its impact and continue growing, it is essential to build a larger donor base. We need to broaden our network and gain additional donors to help create a stronger future for the concrete industry.

This year, the ACI Foundation funded eight critical research projects, but 34 other grant applicants were left with no funding or support. There was also an overwhelming response by students applying for scholarships and fellowships, but the Foundation could award only 22 students, leaving 63 deserving and hopeful students without a scholarship. As the Foundation grows, the number of funding requests from students and researchers continues to increase. Every dollar matters, and no donation is too small. With more contributors to the Foundation, we can attract more good students, fund more critical research projects, and help the concrete industry advance in important new directions.

The ACI Foundation strongly supports students joining the field of concrete—future designers, engineers, educators, construction managers, and contractors—and has provided financial support and mentorship and internship opportunities in the concrete industry to nearly 220 recipients since 2008. The ACI Foundation also looks for ways to leverage its research funding by working actively with partner foundations. Through collaborative co-funding, the $2 million of research grants that the ACI Foundation, through its Concrete Research Council, has expended to date has contributed to nearly $14 million in significant research projects. In addition, the ACI Foundation’s Strategic Development Council works toward implementing new technologies and tackling industry issues through holding forums, hosting workshops, funding research, and helping to jumpstart technical guides with financial support. To date, the council has committed $800,000, which has been leveraged to nearly $4 million of work in pursuit of industry progress. For me, it has been very exciting to be a part of the ACI Foundation during such an important time.

Join me, the ACI Board of Direction, ACI Foundation Trustees and Foundation staff, and ACI senior management in donating this year to reach a record of 1000 donors. ACI covers all administrative costs of running the Foundation, so 100% of your donation will go directly to students excelling in an industry-related degree program or to research and innovation that will transform the future of our industry.

To donate, make your gift via check and mail it to ACI headquarters, attention of the ACI Foundation; visit the Foundation online at acifoundation.org; or donate after you renew your ACI membership. You can also keep up with the Foundation on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and through the Knowledge to Practice articles in Concrete International. We look forward to your help in embracing the younger generation of designers, builders, and engineers. Your involvement will contribute toward expanding knowledge over broad areas of concrete construction, propelling research in new and innovative areas of concrete, and informing some of the world’s most important building codes and standards.

Cary S. Kopczynski