Random Acts of Kindness

By Maggie Murphy, Managing Editor, Construction Executive

Mechanical subcontractor Dave Jones, Inc. is a second generation, family-owned business providing plumbing, HVAC, fire protection and electrical services. The Madison, Wisconsin-based company has a shared vision to be the most revered by its people, customers, partners and communities at large.

When Dave Jones started the business in 1977, he displayed the value that success cannot be measured on revenues alone—thus beginning a commitment to community support that continues to the present day.

Dave Jones, Inc.’s 475 employees are strongly committed to the communities in which they live and work. The team offers support to a variety of causes by volunteering time and making financial contributions to organizations in need. That kind of behavior is encouraged from the top down, and the company spotlights employees who exhibit exceptional dedication to various causes.

One of the company’s core values is giving back. The selection process for which organizations they support are considered for those that align with their core values, the urgency of support their communities may need at a certain time and specific donation requests that are important to the team. They recently won Wisconsin’s Gifts for a Cure Award for their outstanding efforts.

A few examples of organizations they have supported include:

• Swinging for a Cure, an annual golf outing supporting Cystic Fibrosis. The company has raised just shy of a million dollars by hosting and covering all associated costs of three golf outings to date.
• Second Harvest Food Bank. Numerous monetary donations have been made, and their office site has been a host for collection of food donations. Employees contribute to this cause every year by either bringing in food or making financial contributions.
• Habitat for Humanity, which has been a focus of monetary and in-kind work for 30 years. The company has pledged money for new neighborhoods, and Greg Jones, the company’s CEO, has served on their board of directors and as co-chair for their Capital Campaign.
• American Family Children’s Hospital. The company purchases gifts and delivers them every Christmas for the children spending their holidays at the hospital.
• AFCH Ronald McDonald House, which houses families that have an ill child who is a patient at the American Family Children’s Hospital. The company donated all the plumbing labor for a 15,000 square-foot addition and a renovation of 17,000 square feet within the last couple of years.
• Dave’s Fave. Dave Jones, Inc. has its own private-label cinnamon whiskey, and all proceeds are donated to charity every year. Each year the team gets involved by nominating a charity of their choice to be considered.