September 18, 2024, twenty-five Simpson Strong-Tie employees from various departments came together to participate in a pergola build organized by Smiles Charity, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans. These pergolas were gifted to two disabled veterans selected by the charity. As a platinum sponsor, Simpson Strong-Tie also supports Smiles Charity’s annual concert and family festival in McKinney, TX.

Employees from sales, fabrication, autos, warehouse and other departments shared the impact of participating in this project. Sidney Hickman, an associate technical support representative, expressed it this way: “Building the pergola was pretty cool because I talk about the Simpson parts every day, but actually installing them in the field was pretty cool. The biggest thing was, we did it for a good cause.”

The event was coordinated by Loren Brown, senior territory sales manager for Residential, and Stephen Hughes, territory sales representative for OEM. In preparation, Loren met with each family to explain the steps for building a 10×10 pergola using Simpson’s Outdoor Accents® products.

A week before the event, Loren and Stephen poured concrete for the pergola foundations at one of the family’s homes. On the build day, Loren organized all participants into two groups, completing both pergolas within five hours. Loren shared, “Both families were very thankful for our builds.”

This event highlighted Simpson Strong-Tie’s commitment to giving back and making a difference in the local community. Joe Allo, senior material handler remarked, “It was an honor to help build a Simpson pergola with our parts and coworkers for such a deserving family. Serving others, like Jesus did, is my purpose in life.” These Simpson employees demonstrated their enthusiasm for giving to their community by attending and actively participating in this worthy cause. Their presence highlighted their commitment to supporting a meaningful cause.

The McKinney branch is grateful for the strong attendance we consistently see when collaborating with noble organizations such as Smiles Charity. We extend our thanks to everyone who participated in this event.