KBE Bldg. Corp. selects projects for 50 Ways to Make a Difference

KBE Building Corp. (KBE), formerly Konover Construction Corp., has selected its 50 Ways to Make a Difference projects for 2009. Projects selected include sponsorship of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut Cookie Convoy - which sends cookies to American service men and women serving overseas - and painting a senior center in Plainville. 50 Ways is a community outreach initiative for people in the communities where KBE lives and work. The year-long community support initiative is in celebration of the company's 50th year in business. "We are excited about the projects selected for this initiative and about the response we received from our applicants," said Simon Etzel, KBE senior vice president for administration and 50 Ways chairman. "Our associates are excited to get out in the communities and help make a difference. We think the projects selected are a good mixture of straight monetary donations and volunteer opportunities." Etzel said more than 70 applications were submitted for inclusion in the initiative. KBE will complete 40 projects in Connecticut and 10 in Maryland where the firm has a regional office. The projects in Connecticut will take KBE across the state with projects in Derby, Trumbull, Barkhamsted, Bloomfield, Hartford and Waterbury to name a few. One of the projects selected is the $1500 sponsorship of a mentor for Covenant to Care for Children, based in Bloomfield. Covenant to Care for Children is a nonprofit, private agency working with faith communities to meet the needs of abused, neglected, and impoverished children and teens.