The Welcoming Spirit Continues CI Select and The HON Company makes a major donation towards education
The Welcoming Spirit Continues: CI Select and The HON Company makes a major donation towards education
November 17, 2017
Last Fall 2016, the Nahed Chapman New American Academy celebrated the dedication of its new soccer field and outdoor recreation area, an idea conceived and envisioned by architect Peter Tao of TAO + LEE Associates, that became a major community effort and construction project led by the Gateway Welcome Project and the generosity of the regional construction industry and design professionals. The project recently won a 2017 St. Louis AIA Design Award, including recognition of the Washington University Sam Fox School of Visual Arts and Design Studio.
Since the dedication, many individuals and organizations have joined this welcoming spirit by supporting this St. Louis Public School system’s transitional school for new immigrant and refugee children, grades K through 10. This has included a variety of program support, donations, as well as the establishment of the Alexander Hamilton New American Fund set up through the SLPS Foundation.
This Fall 2017, Peter, president of the Gateway Welcome Project and Steering Committee Member of the St. Louis Mosaic Project, was approached about the classroom needs of the school, so he put the word out to the industry again.
It is all about connecting people and organizations.
TAO + LEE partner, Helen Lee, made a connection with Lisa Moehle and Claire Erker, partner of CI Select, an office furnishings firm in St. Louis. The result was CI Select securing a generous donation of this much needed furniture through one of their national workplace furnishings brands, The HON Company.
HON is donating 50 new chairs and 44 new tables to outfit classrooms and support teachers in creating better learning environments, a retail value of $57,000. The furniture was distributed at both NCNAA locations, the main campus on Grand Boulevard and the Roosevelt High School location.
The St. Louis Welcoming Spirit continues.