Each year, DRMP hosts a Spring/Summer donation drive to support children and teenagers as they prepare for the new school year. From buying new bicycles to collecting school supplies, the DRMPCares program helps those in need the most.
Through DRMPCares, our firm is committed to improving the quality of life in our communities by supporting lasting positive change in STEM education, health, and children. In wrapping up another successful Spring/Summer donation drive, rallying our employees together across multiple locations helps our firm have the greatest impact.
At our Orlando, Fla., headquarters, we gathered an assortment of new school supplies, including backpacks, lunch boxes, calculators, and more for the Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families. The Center provides comprehensive services for the most vulnerable children and families, including mental health counseling, child protection, and family support programs.
To add a fun twist to the donation drive, our Orlando office organized a "Battle of the Departments" contest to see which team could collect the most donations. Our partner firm, CPH, joined forces with our General Civil Department to increase the impact of this initiative. The General Civil Department came out on top as the winner.
"I’m proud of the spirit of giving exhibited by the General Civil Orlando group in exceeding every expectation in support of DRMP’s meaningful initiative," said General Civil Group Leader Deshon Fox, PE. "Relatively small donations resulted in a large assortment of school supplies to support the Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families. Every item donated is a step toward success for students.”
In St. Augustine, our team backed the “Tools 4 Schools” campaign, providing much-needed supplies to the St. Johns County School District.
Tools 4 Schools is a community initiative that supplies classroom materials to teachers and students year-round, easing educators' out-of-pocket expenses and equipping classrooms for success.
“The most beautiful thing about giving back to a teacher is that it is a gift that keeps giving,” said St. Augustine Office Manager Kimberly Durden. “When you support a teacher, you’re investing in the future of countless students they will inspire and educate.”
Over in Jacksonville, our office participated in the Stuff the Bus campaign for United Way Northeast Florida supporting classrooms, teachers, and students in need. Administrative Assistant Bryanna Mill helps organize Jacksonville’s school supply donation drive.
"I’m happy to work for a firm that encourages giving back to the community because it does take a village to raise upstanding citizens,” Mill said. “It could be totally disheartening to be a student who isn’t equipped with the necessary tools to aspire their education, especially with so many families being unable to afford basic school supplies. I am grateful that I can make an impact, even if it’s just locally here in Jacksonville."
Boca Raton staff contributed both school supplies and monetary donations to the Spirit of Giving Network, while our Cary, N.C., office ran a successful backpack drive, filling the backpacks with supplies for the VFW Post 7383.
"I enjoy participating in the DRMPCare's school supply drive because it is an easy way to invest in the younger generation and show that you care about their success and outcome,” said Blake Bussard, PSM, a Survey Project Manager in the firm’s Boca Raton office. “It was great to see the company participate in such a great cause."
In Tampa, our employees rallied together to collect supplies for the Hillsborough Education Foundation.
“Children represent the future,” said Tampa Roadway Project Manager Bruno Arriola, PE, ENV SP. “Being able to provide them with school supplies to assist their educational journey is a very rewarding experience.”
Tampa GIS Project Manager Kelly Marton, GISP, works closely on projects with the Hillsborough County School District. She said initiatives like DRMP’s back-to-school donation drives bridge the gap in educational resources by ensuring every student has access to critical supplies.
"The children of our community deserve every resource possible to support their education free from the distraction of unmet needs, and school supply drives are one way we can make sure they have the tools they need to learn,” Marton said.
DRMP remains dedicated to uplifting our communities through community involvement initiatives like the school-supply donation drives. Each contribution, whether big or small, creates a brighter future and reinforces our commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the communities we serve.
