Community Involvement
NOVO For Change
At NOVO Construction, we firmly believe in our responsibility to give back to the communities in which we operate. In alignment with this philosophy, we established the "NOVO for Change" committee, dedicated to making a positive impact on non-profit, after-school programs, and underprivileged groups and organizations.
Under the leadership of our President and CEO, Jim Fowler, the NOVO for Change initiative is committed to promoting inclusion and diversity within our local communities. Through volunteer activities, fundraising events, and donations, NOVO is actively involved in supporting a broad range of programs that focus on education, job training, community development, and improving the lives of those in need.
Our "NOVO for Change" committee embodies our company's core values of integrity, accountability, and excellence, and is a reflection of our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the world. Through our efforts, we hope to inspire others to join us in our quest to create a better world for all.
Our Partners
Girls Garage
Girls Garage is a nonprofit design and building program and dedicated workspace for girls* and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18. Founded in 2013, Girls Garage is the first-ever design and building workshop for female youth in the United States. Through after-school and summer pathways, Girls Garage provides free and low-cost programs in carpentry, welding, architecture, engineering, and activist art to a diverse community of 200 girls.
NOVO supports Girls Garage’s many campaigns and initiatives including Fearless 100 which provided full toolboxes to 100 of their members with financial barriers.
Leap Arts In Education
Leap’s mission is to provide top quality arts education programs that help students build skills to achieve their fullest potential. They envision a world where art is a fundamental part of every child’s education and success.
NOVO and our architect partners have teamed up over years in Leap’s annual Sandcastle Classic event in an effort to raise money for the LEAP Arts in Education programs. The Sandcastle Classic is the largest competition in Northern California where teams typically comprised of contractors, architects, engineers, and local elementary school students work together to build giant sand sculptures. More recently, NOVO and the team raised $14,500, this fund will serve over 6,000 students in more than 25 elementary schools throughout the Bay Area.
Rebuilding Together
Since 2012, NOVO has teamed with Rebuilding Together on projects to rehabilitate homes and community facilities of neighbors in need throughout the Bay Area. The events include an annual home remodel project where NOVO and the Rebuilding Together team volunteer on the weekends to remodel a home for a community, family or individual in need.
Along with the remodel projects, Rebuilding Together also holds a biennial Dreams Happen playhouse fundraising event at the Stanford Shopping Center. For this, NOVO teams up with an architect to design and build an unique, life-size children’s playhouse that will be auctioned at the Dreams Happen Gala and Playhouse Auction. All proceeds benefit Rebuilding Together Peninsula.
Build.org
BUILD partners with eight Bay Area schools ranging from 7th grade to 12th and span from Richmond to East Palo Alto. The programs are typically extra-curricular and in person, however, due to the COVID pandemic, they are registered as class electives and contribute to course credits for college applications mainly taught during the school day. NOVO is proud to support the programs that help grow our youth by building their confidence, engage them in out-of-the-box thinking, and develop their interpersonal skills.
The Mosaic Project
The Mosaic project’s mission is to work toward a peaceful future by uniting children of diverse backgrounds, providing them with essential community building skills, and empowering them to become peacemakers. They work with youth and adults enables them to reach wider communities through schools, community-based organizations, and the workplace. NOVO was recently asked to help with their forever home property in Castro Valley and will continue to support future endeavors.
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View A&M University is a public, Historically Black College University (HBCU) located in Prairie View, TX. It is the second oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. PVAM offers a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Construction Science with a curriculum that aligns with what we look for when recruiting interns and full-time engineers. NOVO has committed to actively recruiting from PVAM with the intention of finding interns and full-time engineers to join the NOVO team.
CABPES
CABPES is based out of Colorado with the vision to expand in the Bay Area. They are committed to introduce middle and high school kids to math and science (STEM). Not only does the program focus on the technical skills, it also emphasizes the importance of interpersonal skills and establishing networks. NOVO has become a Orion Partner and will become a resource that could provide scholarships and/or internships in the future.
