On May 16, 2024, approximately 90 leaders from the architecture, engineering, and construction industry attended ‘Brick by Brick – Foundation for the Future,’ a benefit to support the AIA Grand Rapids Student Scholarship Endowment. The event, which took place at the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s (GRAM) Cook Auditorium, netted an estimated $14,000 for the scholarship endowment.
Attendees enjoyed a festive strolling dinner, signature cocktails, silent auction, and the opportunity to view the LEGO exhibit currently on display at the museum. The event was the second biennial fundraiser sponsored by the Michigan Architectural Foundation and AIA Grand Rapids to support the scholarship endowment (MAF administers the scholarship on behalf of AIA Grand Rapids).
“We were pleased to host this special and entertaining evening, which included eight current and past AIA Grand Rapids scholarship recipients,” said Amy Scoby, Senior Vice President, The Christman Company, MAF board member and ‘Brick by Brick – Foundation for the Future’ planning committee chair. “On behalf of the event planning committee, AIA Grand Rapids, and MAF, we are grateful to our event guests and donors for recognizing the importance of the scholarship program in supporting architecture students from the Grand Rapids area, and in developing the next generation of architectural talent.”
To kick the evening off, GRAM provided a VIP sponsor tour featuring a behind-the-scenes, post-construction walk-through tour of the museum. Event program highlights included an inspiring video (produced by past AIA Grand Rapids board members Season Gilliam and Matt Christie) featuring testimonials from past MAF scholarship winners (watch the video here); and the event’s silent auction, which featured items including seven LEGO Botanical event centerpieces (which were displayed on the tables instead of live flower arrangements), and a stay at the Florida condo owned by MAF Trustee Katherine Banicki.
In addition, Bricks & Minifigs, a Grand Rapids-area LEGO store focusing on “spreading the joy of creativity and community for all things LEGO”, provided an opportunity for guests to assemble a custom minifigure featuring the MAF and AIA GR logos as a memento of the evening.
AIA Grand Rapids and MAF are grateful for the support of this year’s event planning committee members and event sponsors:
BRICK BY BRICK – FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE PLANNING COMMITTEE
Amy Scoby, Senior VP, The Christman Company (MAF Board)
Anne Doornbos, TowerPinkster (AIAGR Vice President)
Marie Arrington, AIA Grand Rapids Board Director
Matt Christie, Mathison | Mathison Architects (AIAGR Past President)
Pam Danckaert, Executive Director, AIA Grand Rapids
Robert Daverman, Daverman Architecture (MAF Board)
Steve Romkema, Fishbeck (AIAGR Past President)
Tom Mathison, Mathison | Mathison Architects (MAF Board)
FOUNDERS LEVEL SPONSORS
Progressive Companies
Testing Engineers & Consultants
The Christman Company
INSPIRATION BUILDERS LEVEL SPONSORS
Fishbeck
Hobbs + Black
Matrix Consulting Engineers
SCHOLARS LEVEL SPONSORS
Albert Kahn Associates
Bricks and Minifigs Grand Rapids
Builders Exchange of Michigan
Centria
EV Construction
GMB
Hooker DeJong
IDS
KCAD
Mathison | Mathison
Neville Design Group, LLC
PCIA Insurance
Spark 43
Trellis
AIA GRAND RAPIDS PAST PRESIDENT DONORS
Megan Feenstra Wall, AIA – 2021
Matthew Slagle, AIA – 2018
Thomas Danckaert, AIA – 2016
Daniel Tyrer, AIA – 2015
Michael Belisle, AIA – 2014
Bob Daverman, AIA – 2002, 2004
Don Laughter, AIA – 1997
Ralph Moxley, AIA – 1996
Tom Dowling, RA – 1994
Tom Mathison, FAIA – 1992
Wayne Norlin, AIA – 1988