IRVINE, Calif. (May 7, 2024) – Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, announced it has received the Organizational Excellence in Community Engagement award from the Giles O’Malley Center for Leadership at California State University, Fullerton. Presented on May 3 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine as part of the center’s 2024 Leadership Awards event, the acknowledgment recognizes outstanding Orange County or Southern California organizations that have demonstrated excellence in corporate social responsibility and community outreach.

“Philanthropy and community involvement are an essential part of who we are as a company,” said Chairman Lawrence R. Armstrong, who was recently honored with the 2024 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award by the Orange County Business Journal. “Our work with United Way has helped raise more than $1 million and their initiative, United to End Homelessness has worked to house more than 1,000 people.” Armstrong serves as Chair for the United to End Homelessness initiative.

Named in honor of CSUF alumnus Terry Giles and his wife, Kalli O’Malley, the Giles O’Malley Center for Leadership is nationally celebrated for its student-focused educational programs and is equally recognized as a resource serving the Orange County business community. The center annually distributes $50,000 in student scholarships, which are entirely merit-based and earned through engagement in the center’s programs.

The mission of the center is to develop the leadership capacity of students and the Orange County community through education, training, and outreach. It does this by planning and delivering cutting-edge curriculum and leadership development experiences to undergraduate, graduate and executive-level students, alumni, and organizations in Orange County.

“We are honored to accept this award on behalf of our entire team, and celebrate their efforts to strengthen the communities around us,” said Ken Wink, CEO, Ware Malcomb. “The foundation of great design, a people-focused culture, community involvement and continuous innovation is helping build the next generation of Ware Malcomb in Southern California and across the Americas.”

Ware Malcomb’s ‘WM Community’ program encourages team members to be involved in local communities and charitable organizations, as well as the design and commercial real estate industries. Ware Malcomb team members are invested in community involvement and youth development and frequently participate in internship and career exploration outreach programs. Team members also participate as guest lecturers on a range of topics related to the architecture/engineering industry and overall professional development.

“Our ‘WM Community’ philanthropy program is a hallmark of our company,” said Ruth Brajevich, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives. “We are proud that our community involvement and culture of giving is being celebrated, and graciously accept this award.”

Ware Malcomb is involved in many charitable organizations across North and South America. For 25 years, the firm has supported United Way in an annual companywide giving campaign, totaling more than $1 million. In addition to United Way, Ware Malcomb continues to be a proud annual partner of Susan G. Komen, among many other philanthropic organizations.

About Ware Malcomb (waremalcomb.com)

Established in 1972, Ware Malcomb is a contemporary and expanding full-service design firm providing professional architecture, planning, interior design, civil engineering, branding and building measurement services to corporate, commercial/residential developer and public/institutional clients throughout the world. With office locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, the firm specializes in the design of office, industrial, science & technology, healthcare, multifamily, retail, and public/institutional projects. Ware Malcomb is recognized as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company and a Hot Firm by Zweig Group. The firm is also ranked among the top 15 architecture/engineering firms in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms and the top 25 interior design firms in Interior Design magazine’s Top 100 Giants. For more information, visit waremalcomb.com.

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