SFS Team "Awaken KC" Wins Greatest Impact Award for Project Change

Starting with seven companies, the Awaken KC Team grew to 40 supporting companies and organizations over the four month challenge. At the awards ceremony on June 10th the team was awarded the "Greatest Impact" Award and received a $1,000 check for partner charity Community Linc.

Over the 4 months of the Challenge the team completed projects for Community Linc such as an extreme makeover of a previously unusable basement into a teen center; a community garden for residents; giant grocery bags stuffed with pasta, recipes and ingredients for families; and a sustainble solution to existing drainage problems by installing a french drain and rain gardens.

In addition, the team held a fundraiser for autism that benefitted the MU Thompson Center and the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-Cart). The event, held at Boulevard Brewing Company raised awareness and $10,000 for the two organizations. Tapping into the rivalry that exists between MU and KU the event was attended by 25o supporters and alumni.

More info on our team's projects and team members can be found on our team blog that tracked our progress... http://projectchangekc-awakenkc.blogspot.com

SFS Architecture sponsors team for Project Change

SFS Architecture is leading a team of over 15 companies in the first annual Project Change community service challenge.

Project Change (www.projectchange-kc.org) is a multi-challenge competition created to bring together the Kansas City community for the greater good. In an effort to raise awareness, the goal is to connect people, share knowledge, use talents to fuel passions and simplify the act of giving. There are15 teams, each lead by an architecture/design firm, competing in 4 challenges. The competition kicked off in January and our team is currently in the midst of Challenge 3: Save the Planet.

Our team's progress on all four Challenges is updated regularly on our blog at
http://projectchangekc-awakenkc.blogspot.com

Building Green for Habitat Kansas City

May 3, 2008: SFS staff spent Saturday afternoon volunteering for Habitat Kansas City on one of twelve "green" homes they are building this year. The annual teambuilding event gave staff a chance to get their hands dirty, frame some walls and use a nail gun.

The energy efficient houses, designed by sfs staff member Waylon Arndt, follow energy star guidelines and sustainable design principles. As a volunteer for Habitat Kansas City, Arndt designed two prototypes that are capable of accommodating a multitude of existing site conditions. The sustainable homes are being constructed by Habitat with the intention of helping families keep utilities costs down and informing low-income communities about the benefits of green initiatives.