ESI CARES Partners With Make-A-Wish To Bring Backyard Joy to Family

What was once a backyard with limited shade and space for a 10-year-old boy in Idaho is now a perfect spot for him to hang out with his family — and it’s the result of a partnership between ESI CARES Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho and a host of local businesses and organizations that stepped up to help.   

Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, Make-A-Wish of Idaho put a hold on all travel-related wishes, opening the door for Lane’s wish to go to the top of a very long list of wishes. Lane and his family simply wished to have a more accessible backyard. Lane, who uses a wheelchair, loves to spend time outdoors with his family, but their backyard had no shade and no pathways he could use to stay close to his family as they worked and played in the yard and garden.   

Now, the space has a covered patio, pathways that connect the front yard to the back and a firepit area that's encircled by pavement, providing Lane with the freedom to move around in a way he couldn’t before.   

The project was completed this April after Make-A-Wish Idaho received Lane’s wish and reached out to ESI CARES for help in bringing his request to life. ESI CARES is the charitable branch of ESI Construction (Engineered Structures, Inc), one of the country’s top general contractors and construction site managers. The foundation has worked with charitable organizations since 2018 to help provide meaningful support to the communities they touch, whether in Idaho or beyond.   

Courtesy of Marc Walters Photography

The full project  

In addition to the concrete pathways and covered patio, the team brought the family’s front and back steps up to code, completed corrective landscaping to level the lawn and upgraded the family’s HVAC system.     

“In all, we added over 1,000 square feet of new concrete for the patio and sidewalk,” Adam Bancroft, a project manager at ESI, said. “We also added a 300 square-foot wood-framed canopy for the patio.”   

The project came together with the support of the entire community, Andrea Hovey, an ESI director who serves on the ESI CARES board, added.   

Among that support, The Home Depot donated lumber, Lane's city waived permit fees for the patio structure and ESI’s trade partners generously donated everything from electrical work and the HVAC repairs to the concrete material and pump truck rental. The staff at the local Home Depot even created a neon yellow apron in a camo pattern for Lane. In all, 25 companies contributed some type of support, Hovey said.   

“The community really stepped up,” she said. “It felt wonderful to be able to help. Lane’s mom said he’s been very enthusiastic about the changes.”   

To commemorate the experience, Lane added his handprints to wet concrete in the backyard.   

Courtesy of Marc Walters Photography

How ESI CARES raises funds  

When ESI CARES was founded in 2018, ESI immediately instituted recycling programs where recyclable materials like scrap metal are collected from job sites and offices and then turned into dollars that benefit the foundation. The program has also helped to promote sustainability.   

“We’ve been able to divert tens of thousands of tons of scrap metal from ending up in landfills each year,” Bancroft said.   

Currently, about 1.25 million pounds of scrap metal has been recycled through the program, allowing the foundation to make 88 donations.   

They can also recycle wood and drywall with local partner, Timber Creek Recycling, which reuses the materials for livestock bedding.   

“It’s a really neat way where we can be green-minded,” Bancroft added.   

Their recycling programs are also a way to incorporate the entire ESI team — allowing even office workers who recycle their soda cans to participate.   

“We want every employee to have an opportunity to participate so it’s a positive company-wide experience,” Hovey said.   

In addition to working with Make-A-Wish, ESI CARES also partnered with the Ronald McDonald House on their new Boise facility in 2019 and has since worked with numerous other community organizations.   

“We’re interested in taking on projects that support the local communities we work with, particularly to benefit women, children and education,” Hovey said. The foundation’s mission is built on supporting three main pillars: Family, Community and Education.   

The ESI CARES, HomeSphere connection  

ESI has been working with HomeSphere since 2019 to earn credits on the building products they use, including those from Lennox, Mannington, Mohawk, Progress Lighting, Panasonic, GAF Roofing and York.   

“HomeSphere has been a huge help for us financially,” Hovey said.   

“The HomeSphere program has been a big contributor to our source of funding for the foundation,” Bancroft added. “It’s been a good fit.”    

Bancroft works closely with Lynette Nelson, HomeSphere’s in-market specialist for the Idaho region, who helps the ESI team stay up to date on the credits they can earn.   

“It’s been incentivizing to have such an automated process,” he said, “Lynette’s been awesome to work with.”  

Nelson said she gets all of the information on the projects ESI is working on through Adam and that ESI has long hoped their use of credits will catch on with other building companies. “I have enjoyed working with them, and look forward to future projects,” Nelson said.   

HomeSphere is proud to work with ESI and help contribute to ESI CARES and the fantastic work the foundation is accomplishing, and we know our brand partners will be thrilled to hear how their credit dollars are being donated back into the community.   

Learn more about ESI Construction and ESI CARES on their website.