November is National Gratitude Month, which offers us the opportunity to reflect on the causes we’ve had the good fortune of supporting throughout 2023. As we round out our 20th anniversary year, we are humbled by the opportunities, assistance, and wisdom we have gained along the way. We feel extremely grateful to be able to help our community when we can and we look forward to continuing this practice into the new year.  

If you’re currently looking for an organization to support with your time, skills, or financial contributions, we encourage you to consider some of these worthy causes.

ACE Mentorship Program of Annapolis

The mission of ACE Mentorship Annapolis is to be the definitive resource and leading conduit for Anne Arundel County high school students who wish to pursue a career in ACE fields – Architectural, Construction Management, and Engineering. Their vision is to “advance and sustain the design & construction industry through mentoring, professional networking, and scholarship opportunities.”

One of the primary goals of ACE is to help build a large, diverse, and better-prepared workforce. At Continental Contractors we strongly believe in investing in the trades and the potential of our future team members. Continental supports the ACE Mentorship Program annually by sponsoring networking and scholarship events. In addition to supporting our local chapter, Continental was a Gold Sponsor in June for the Greater Boston chapter’s annual networking event.  Project Manager Kate Penn recently completed two hotel renovations in Boston, and attended the event at The Artists for Humanity EpiCenter with COO Renee Bagshaw.

Radical Innovation Contest

Through an annual competition, Radical Innovation mobilizes innovators from around the world, providing the platform for Real Estate Developers to join forces with Design Visionaries to connect, review, and brainstorm ways to disrupt the industry through innovative ideas.

For 20 years, Continental Contractors has continued to search for new solutions to old problems, striving to “Reinvent Hotel Renovation” in the process. This year we were proud to sponsor Radical Innovation and be part of their mission to fuel the future of hospitality. Continental Contractors’ CEO Pete Welch attended the annual awards ceremony in October at the New Museum in New York.  From the jury comprised of industry icons to the impressive professional and student entries, this competition is a celebration of innovation and sustainability. Read about the winners of each category here: https://www.radicalinnovation.io/

Fish For A Cure

Fish For A Cure (F4AC) is a fishing tournament and fundraising challenge that makes waves in cancer care in the Anne Arundel County community. They primarily raise funds by hosting an annual fishing tournament on the Chesapeake Bay, followed by a Shore Party in Annapolis – a truly fun way to support a great cause! “All funds raised through F4AC directly benefit the Cancer Survivorship Program at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute.”

As an avid boater who enjoys any opportunity to get out on the water, this is one cause that Continental Contractor’s President Pete Welch has been happily supporting for years. Pete was part of Team LaxFish this year – a team established in 2016 by members and supporters of the Maryland lacrosse community to support a cause that provides critical services not covered by insurance to anyone impacted by cancer. As a longtime Annapolitan, the local connection means a lot to him. Continental Contractors also contributed as a corporate sponsor for the event. Held in early November, this year’s F4AC fundraising collectively raised more than $650,000 for the Cancer Survivorship Program. We are so proud to play a part in this annual event.

American Heart Association

Heart disease doesn’t discriminate and, unfortunately, we all know someone that has been affected by this horrible ailment. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United states.

In 2023, Continental Contractors made a donation to the American Heart Association in honor of Gary Munroe, a longtime friend and colleague, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 55. Gary was well known within the hotel renovation industry, a good friend to many, and will be incredibly missed by all who knew him.

Tunnels to Towers

Tunnels to Towers helps “America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children by building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.”

This year, Continental Contractors made a donation to Tunnels to Towers in honor of a team member working through a difficult season. In lieu of flowers, Continental supported this organization which is near and dear to her heart. We value the opportunity to learn more about the causes that our team cares about and appreciate the chance to contribute as well.

Giving back has always been a part of our culture at Continental Contractors and we feel fortunate to carry it on throughout the year across several worthy causes. Thank you to the event organizers, volunteers, non-profit organizations, and hard-working activists who dedicate their time and effort to getting the word out about the good work of these (and many more) organizations. We appreciate you!