Whether it is providing needed supplies and support for girls on their way to college, mentoring young women seeking a future in the engineering-related fields or employing summer externs, DPR is taking an active role helping at-risk girls find a path to professional success through its partnership with Girls Inc. of Orange County.

“Girls Inc. and DPR have had a great partnership over the past two years,” said Orleda Azevedo, Director of Volunteer Services for Girls Inc. of Orange County. “DPR is one company who believes in the power of community involvement and giving back. (They) have been involved at multiple levels here at Girls Inc. The great employees at DPR help support us in maintaining a safe, nurturing and learning environment for hundreds of girls throughout the Orange County community who walk through our doors.”

Several female professionals at DPR are serving as mentors to college-bound Girls Inc. participants interested in engineering and construction fields. The girls gain valuable insight and support for the transition to college process from the mentors who help them prepare for this important next step into their educational journey, according to DPR’s liaison with the organization Melissa King.

“They don’t have built-in support with their families, so oftentimes the girls don’t know the challenges they will face, like understanding what it’s like to be homesick or how hard finals are,” she said. “We’re giving them another outlet or another person to talk to.” In June, DPR volunteers participated in Girls Inc.’s fourth annual College Shower, which celebrated the 25 girls from their chapter who are headed to college in the fall. Each girl received a giant basket of school supplies, dorm room needs and more.

Girls Inc. participants received school supplies and dorm room necessities at the recent College Shower.

In addition to its current work with high school and college bound girls at Girls Inc., DPR employees have provided a variety of outreach services with younger elementary school age girls in the organization as well. With a goal to expose the girls to opportunities in engineering and construction, DPR participates twice yearly in the National Engineering Week and summer STEM Programing efforts. They have also been an on-call resource for maintenance and repairs to the organization’s aging building. This summer, DPR is employing a Girls Inc. extern in the Newport Beach office.

“We appreciate all that DPR has done and continues to do for our agency and our girls,” Azevedo concluded. “We look forward to continuing to build together.”