On Sept. 13, our Henderson Engineers ‘Give Back’ efforts were recognized with the Matthew 25 Award for Outstanding Corporate Involvement by the City Union Mission. Senior Vice President Jason Wollum and Vice President Sean Eisler accepted the honor on behalf of our company in an event held at Fiorella’s Jack Stack BBQ in Kansas City’s Freight House district.

City Union Mission Executive Director Dan Doty and Chief Development Officer Dennis Chapman presented the award to Jason and Sean.

“Henderson was chosen in recognition of the many years of commitment and excellent service that has been provided for Kansas City’s poor and homeless through our partnership with the City Union Mission,” Sean said.

“It all started with Fran Henderson,” Jason explained. “He had a passion and heart for the City Union Mission. He volunteered many hours at the Mission as well as giving financially. Fran also donated his art and other items. As Henderson grew, we gave financially year after year, and the Henderson Foundation considers the Mission one of our legacy charities, one that we set aside giving for each year based on our longstanding relationship.

“Over the years, many of us at Henderson followed Fran and then Duane’s lead in giving to the Mission, again both with our time and money. Julie Thompson served on the Mission’s board for 10 years and many Henderson folks volunteer there every year.”

Julie explained that Fran provided engineering services to the Mission for the Family Center when a new family apartment building was constructed on the property at East 13^th and Olive Streets in downtown Kansas City.

“Back around 2005, I took a road trip with Fran down to the Mission’s Farm Camp – Camp CUMCITO in Warsaw, Missouri,” Julie said. “He drove his little red sports car. Fran toured the farm looking for ways to help on some long-range planning the Mission was putting in place.

“Another time, Beth Leibling – granddaughter of Mission Founder David Buckley – and I took Fran to lunch. He shared his stories of how he was raised in inner city Kansas City and his family was poor. He was very emotional as he recalled his childhood. I could sense the compassion and connection he had for the poor of Kansas City.”

What an honor to be recognized by an organization that is committed to meeting the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of men, women, and children who are poor or homeless. This award is a tribute to the compassion of Fran that has been passed along to all of us at #TeamHenderson.