Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 2023

January 11, 2023 / GGLO

“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As designers, we put people at the center of every design, through questioning and research about what will best serve their needs, and through exploring narratives of how people will interact with our completed work. From mentoring others and actively participating in volunteer events, to fundraising for and donating to various non-profit organizations, we at GGLO value and actively work towards Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community. Outside of our project work, GGLO has integrated Dr. King’s vision into our charitable giving and volunteer service initiatives throughout the past year.

Our offices are closed on January 16 to honor Dr. King’s legacy and this day of service.

The Block Project

In partnership with the A/E/C community, Facing Homelessness has created the BLOCK Project, an innovative community solution for permanent supportive housing to help end homelessness. As we fight through COVID-19 and its aftermath, the need for this solution has historically never been greater. Over the past few years, GGLO has led fundraisers to support the BLOCK Project’s mission, including our 2022 fundraiser which raised over $15,000. Members of our team have also completed pro-bono design work for various BLOCK homes.

Pike Market Senior Center Green Lake Summer Picnic

The Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank is located in the historic Pike Place Market and has been serving our neighbors in the heart of Seattle since 1978. This summer, GGLO volunteered at their annual summer picnic. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has not happened for the past few years. Volunteers showed up to help set up, organize, and unpack all the supplies in the morning. They also served lunch to over 60 seniors, handed out raffle prizes, and cleaned and packed up.

Pike Market Senior Center Figgy Pudding

Figgy Pudding is the Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank’s primary fundraiser during the winter season. This heart-warming caroling competition attracts nearly 10,000 people each year to enjoy holiday music and it has become a spirited tradition for many Seattle residents of all ages. In our 26th year of participating in this event, our team raised the most money for the Senior Center—over $9,000 through community support, company-wide events, and GGLO’s employee donation matching program.

Architects Without Borders Carve for a Cause

At Architects Without Borders Seattle, volunteers collaborate with underserved communities to design and implement ecologically sensitive, culturally-appropriate, life-changing projects. They serve organizations and communities that would otherwise lack access to architecture and engineering-related services internationally as well as here in the Puget Sound area. Over the past few years, GGLO has participated in the Carve for a Cause pumpkin carving competition where designers have carved creative pumpkins and people pay money to vote for their favorite pumpkins. Proceeds from this event help AWBS continue to provide resources to meet the needs of geographically diverse, community-led initiatives here in the Puget Sound area and around the world.

The Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees

The Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees brings together businesses and organizations in the Boise area to donate and decorate trees. Throughout the seven-day festival, members of the community came to view and purchase the decorated trees and wreaths, as well as attend the festival’s gala and fashion show events. The proceeds were donated to The Saint Alphonsus’ Neuro, Surgical, Trauma Intensive Care Unit which is the first and only critical care unit in Idaho with board-certified and fellowship-trained neuro critical care physicians. This year, GGLO’s Boise office staff volunteered to help set up and prepare for the festival.

We Care 2022

During We Care events, design industry leaders join children of Boys and Girls Clubs in making handmade gifts in over 30 cities throughout the United States and Canada. Led by MillerKnoll, GGLO and other members of the design community designed craft kits for over 50 children at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club. This year, the GGLO team designed craft kits where the children could put together a winter owl, black bear, or moose plant pot and pick a succulent to give to their loved ones.