CH2M HILL Foundation Announces a Grant to Emirates Foundation

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, November 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

CH2M HILL Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CH2M HILL, a global full-service consulting, design, construction, and operations firm, has awarded a grant to Emirates Foundation as part of its Community Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program in the MENAI region.

CH2M HILL is supporting the Emirates Foundation's "Think Science" Programme-aimed at attracting and supporting the aspiring youth of tomorrow to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.  Think Science empowers Emirati Youth to innovate in all fields of science and serves as a platform for youth and industries to connect and develop local talent.  

The decision to choose Emirates Foundation as the grant recipient for 2014/2015 was based on careful consideration of the Foundation's mission, programs, impact, and CSR strategy and its alignment with CH2M HILL Foundation's strategy and core themes of STEM education, environmental stewardship and employee engagement.

In a meeting with CH2M HILL regional management and sales team, Clare Woodcraft, CEO of the Emirates Foundation, said: "Together, we want to create social and commercial responsibility and leave a lasting impact on the lives of young people. We can accomplish a lasting impact through the model of venture philanthropy which focuses on long-term, measurable and financially viable social investment."

CH2M HILL has a long history helping local communities build a sustainable future. The firm works with community partners to expand science and engineering programming and to provide locally-grown talented scientist that meet the region's workforce needs.  CH2M HILL has donated scholarships, provided research grants for graduate students, established entrepreneurship courses for the business program and has provided internship opportunities to many aspiring students around the globe. The grant announcement to Emirates Foundation further demonstrates the firm's commitment to the communities it serves and in particular to expanding local science and engineering programming towards a sustainable future.

Commenting on the grant agreement with CH2M HILL, Mohanna Al Muhairi, Chief Operation Officer at Emirates Foundation, said: "Partnering with a world renowned organisation that is known for its continuous support for social development programs across the globe is highly beneficial for the Foundation. We seek support from the private sector, which allow us to deliver social value and to create opportunities for young people in the UAE. It will also help us in building scientific generation who will be ready to meet the country's growing needs of scientific talents."

"The CH2M HILL Foundation is honoured to partner with the Emirates Foundation to expand STEM educational opportunities for Emirati youth for their personal growth and the advancement of their communities," said Ellen Sandberg, Executive Director of the CH2M HILL Foundation.

"At CH2M HILL, our corporate responsibility is demonstrated in how we utilize our expertise, people, and our social and economic impact, in order to develop local talent in STEM disciplines and to lay the foundation for a sustainable tomorrow," noted Raeda Al Sarayreh, Director of Corporate Affairs at CH2M HILL for MENA and India.

The CH2M HILL Foundation partners with organizations in its operating countries to develop sustainable communities and inspire the next generation of socially and environmentally responsible leaders. It focuses support on employee engagement; environmental stewardship (including access to water and sanitation); and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Visit http://www.ch2mhillfoundation.org.

Headquartered near Denver, Colorado, USA, employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in consulting, design, design-build, operations and program management for government, civil, industrial and energy clients. The firm's work is concentrated in the areas of water, transportation, environment, nuclear, energy, facilities and urban environments. With US$6.6 billion in revenue and 26,000 employees, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record and named a leader in sustainable engineering by Verdantix. Visit us at ch2mhill.com, twitter.com/ch2mhill and facebook.com/ch2mhill. Search for jobs at ch2mhill.jobs.

Contact: Roula Terzian

E-Mail: roula.terzian@ch2m.com