Built to Serve
Our founder, Lonnie Peterson, believed that it is better to be a giver than a taker, and that the secret to finding joy and happiness in this world is by helping others. In celebration of his legacy, Cuhaci Peterson established CP Gives, which is committed to bringing communities to life through volunteer opportunities and philanthropic giving. With offices in Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Boston, the Cuhaci Peterson team is built to serve and making a difference far and wide! To us, the phrase ‘Built to Serve’ means more than just designing buildings that will serve the needs of a community, it embodies the culture of our organization.
Community Engagement
Tour de Cure
March 26
Always up for adventure with his web of biking friends, Lonnie would be pleased to know that charity rides are still a big part of CP Gives including The Tour de Cure, which is the largest fundraising event for the American Diabetes Association. Many of our team members have a personal connection to an individual with diabetes, including one of the Cuhaci Peterson principals, Amin Fikry, who passed away unexpectedly in 2015. We dedicate our rides to him, to remember the man he was, and the impact he had on the hearts of all who knew him.
IOA Corporate 5K
May 4
Another great event Team CP participates in each year is the Simply IOA Corporate 5K, which benefits the Track Shack Youth Foundation and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Known as Orlando’s largest office party, it is a friendly competition where businesses and nonprofits create teams to run and walk either in person or virtually. In 2021, Cuhaci Peterson was recognized for having one of the largest teams. Together, we can outrun hunger and feed hope in Central Florida.
Canstruction Orlando
September 10
Canstruction is a favorite event of the Cuhaci Peterson staff! In addition to raising awareness about hunger and providing resources to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, this design/build experience has been an amazing way to encourage teamwork and problem-solving skills. In 2022, Team CP was the People’s Choice Winner and advanced to the national competition. We love to come together as a group to flex our design skills and master builder expertise for such a great cause!
Foundations to Freedom – Rampage
September 17
Cuhaci Peterson teamed up with Center for Independent Living of Central Florida to provide custom installations of wheelchair ramps as part of their Foundations to Freedom program. When asked about the experience, Chris Abbey commented, “One of the reasons I like to do these builds and to give back is that these are people who, until you get to know them, are invisible to us, yet they live next door. We can come out on a Saturday and we can completely change the dynamics of the way that their day-to-day life is.”
Sarah’s Sporting Clays Against Cancer
December 7
Sarah’s Sporting Clays Against Cancer benefits innovative research and game-changing education at Cannonball Kids’ Cancer Foundation. Sarah was a girl who was diagnosed with cancer at age 13 and found out she was terminal at 16. She charged her dad, Bob Szafranski, with creating options for kids, because she was told that she had no more options. She said, “I want to do something that will help people forever. I want to find a cure for cancer.”
Sponsors
Tomorrow, Together
Making such a great impact for these, and other causes in our community, is due in large part to the incredible support of our sponsors. While we have the means to contribute our time and talents, the financial contributions by corporations and individuals make all the difference in the world.
With sponsorship and financial donations, we can continue the mission of CP Gives by providing opportunities for employees to serve in our communities and encourage team members to find causes that are important to them and take action to make a positive change.