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John Korsmo Construction has a long heritage of giving back to our community. Over the past 10 years, we have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars of construction labor and materials to worthy causes, including local schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, the YMCA and others. In 2002, we continued this tradition and expanded our efforts with the following focus:
The Intel Computer Club gives students access to the high-tech world, who may not otherwise have an opportunity. And it brings them together in a controlled and supervised environment that protects and nurtures their progress. Like the parents and school administrators, our company knows that the students participating in the club are the community’s future leaders.
John Korsmo Construction, Inc. was the general contractor for this new elementary school, and it was a job we thoroughly enjoyed building. Over the course of the project, we built an excellent working relationship with the owner, and we were very impressed by the high degree of enthusiasm among school administrators, parents and the community for this school – the first in this planned community.
At the end of the project, our company decided we wanted to contribute something of lasting value to the school as our way of saying congratulations and best wishes to the students and teachers. We asked the school principal for ideas, who in turn asked his teaching staff. The teachers came up with a list of ideas, all focused on reading. We selected their idea to build and install additional bookshelves in the school library – book shelves that had been cut from the program when the budget was being trimmed. After the shelving was installed, we purchased a series of books that the teachers had also requested. Total value of the bookcase, labor and books was approximately $2,500, and the donation was greatly appreciated.
We completed a stabilization project on these historic horse barns. The barns are part of Ft. Steilacoom Park and are some of the oldest standing structures in Western Washington. Following years of neglect, the barns were in danger of collapsing and becoming forever lost. State Representative Mike Carroll spearheaded the project to stabilize the barns, despite a lack of state funding. He approached Korsmo Construction to become a partner in this worthwhile project. We not only agreed, but also were instrumental in securing commitments from other community businesses. This partnership insured the survival of this important regional treasure. The value of the stabilization is approximately $20,000.
The Orr Home was first built in the 1850s as part of the Nathaniel Orr farm. Orr built a prosperous apple orchard on the site. Now part of the Steilacoom Historical Society, the home is now also listed on the National Save Our History Registry.
When the six-year strategic plan for restoration of the Orr Home was in jeopardy, Korsmo Construction was pivotal in recruiting the support of U.S. Congressman Norm Dicks. Congressman Dicks helped secure both private and public funding for this extremely significant historic project.
The scope of this project included designing an overall plan to resurrect this historic building and save it. We needed to raise and move this historic home that had fallen off its jacks. We successfully moved it back to its foundation and restabilized the warped structure. Korsmo is proud to have donated 30% of the total restoration cost.
In addition to these specific projects, we provided support to our local community in the following ways:
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Annual giving to the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA
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Cash donations to many local organizations who solicited funds from us
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Advertisement of local community events on our reader board
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John Korsmo, Jr.’s involvement and leadership in the Lakewood Rotary Club, Lakewold Gardens, Pierce County Library and Lakewood Redevelopment Boards
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Supporting organized youth sports teams
