Making a Difference
Throughout the years Bremik Construction has sought out opportunities that give back to the communities in which they work. This past year they have had the amazing opportunity to partner with Make-A-Wish Oregon.
The organization was presented with an increase of construction related wishes since the pandemic occurred and wishes became limited for the children due to the chance of their health being compromised. Children began having wishes for a space where they could enjoy the outdoors with no risks, this led to wishes regarding home/backyard makeovers.
Impactful Partnership
Spencer Bradley, President of Bremik Construction, was honored to support Make-A-Wish Oregon efforts to grant construction related wishes when presented with the opportunity this past year by Fletcher Johnson, Director of Corporate Alliances of Make-A-Wish Oregon.
“We are all a part of this community, and it’s an easy ‘yes’ to donate the costs of the labor and materials to get this done. Everyone steps up to support these families in the community,” Bradley said.
Bremiks pledge is to grant two wishes a year by organizing all efforts to provide both the wish families and Make-A-Wish Oregon the wish at zero costs. These projects couldn’t be completed without the subcontractors who provided materials and time to build the wishes.
Aside from granting wishes, Bradley and Amanda Deats, Senior Marketing Coordinator and Outreach Specialist of Bremik Construction, are both a part of the Make-A-Wish Oregon Board. Bradley is on the Board of Directors and Deats is on the Emerging Leaders Board. Bremik was involved in the Make-A-Wish golf tournament as a sponsor this past year, and will be participating at the Annual Fundraiser Wish Ball in the fall.
“We are very lucky to be able to support this organization,” Bradley said.
Granting Wishes
This year marked Bremiks first time granting wishes. They granted two, and both wishes were Sensory Gazebos tailored to each child’s needs.
The first wish was completed in March, and the structure includes a swing, sensory wall, music set, and a water feature. GBD Architects, Duke Construction & Excavation, LaRusso Concrete, Cudahy Lumber, and Pioneer Sheet Metal all donated their services to fulfill this wish. The goal was to create a safe place where the child and family can enjoy being outside year round. Bremik was dedicated to getting to know the family and child to best understand their needs.
With the help of subcontractors, Bremik was able to deliver a safe outdoor space for the child and family to enjoy together. “It was a unique project because we purely did it for the emotional and physical enjoyment of somebody. It’s amazing to be able to see them experience the space,” David Brookings, Project Manager, said.
The second wish was completed this past August, and the structure includes a swing, sensory wall, and sensory toys. Volume Concrete, Cudahy Lumber, District Painting, and Stryker Construction all donated their services to fulfill this wish. The project was designed in-house by Jake Watkins, Senior Project Engineer and Architect, who considered all aspects of the child’s needs in the process. The child is limited in mobility, so it was important to the family that Bremik created a space where the child could be outdoors to look at things and get fresh air. “We are learning a lot about what these projects can be, and as we do more of these we can get a more diverse range of projects that fits a child’s needs,” Watkins said.
These sensory play areas are typically developed for children whose illness is causing them serious issues, so having these areas for the children to be outside is highly impactful.
Continuing the Mission
Bremik is looking forward to the future of the partnership with Make-A-Wish Oregon, and continuing to make a difference to the community with wishes. This partnership is impactful for everyone involved.
“We are committed to granting two wishes a year, depending on what their demand is, maybe go up from there. We have loved supporting them on these first two, the families have been great and the kids have been happy with the outcomes,” Bradley said.
Make-A-Wish Oregon was the fifth chapter founded for the Make-A-Wish foundation, and their mission is to grant life changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. “A common misconception for Make-A-Wish is that we only grant wishes to children who are going to pass away, and that is not the case 45% of our children go on to be adults. It’s not a last wish, it’s a part of providing kids hope and joy, every kid deserves to have hope and joy in their life,” said Johnson.
