NRMCA Producer Member Ozinga Bros. Named Concrete Cares Award Winner

The Manufacturers, Products & Services (MPS) Division of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) is pleased to present the 2017 Concrete Cares Award to Ozinga Bros., Mokena, Ill., in recognition of its long-time commitment to its community and its work on behalf of the Built to Honor program. In 2016, Ozinga partnered with PulteGroup’s Built to Honor program and donated the concrete and aggregate used to build a mortgage-free home in Yorkville, Ill., for retired U.S. Army Sergeant Broderick Richmond and his family.

A Chicago native, Sgt. Richmond joined the Army in 2006 and served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was wounded in Afghanistan in 2008 and is a recipient of the Purple Heart. Sgt. Richmond was selected as the recipient of the mortgage-free home after he applied through the Military Warriors Support Foundation, a nonprofit charity providing support for the nation’s combat wounded heroes through home donation, academic and employment assistance, and recreational activities.

PulteGroup then contacted Walt Nashert, a sales representative for Ozinga’s materials and logistics entity, to see if the company would be interested in supporting this endeavor. After securing material and logistics donations, Walt then reached out to Ozinga’s concrete division to offer additional products and services for the cause. Ozinga donated concrete, aggregates and all the transportation involved with getting the materials to the site, a donation that almost equaled a $20,000 monetary donation. The new two-story, 2,600-square-foot home is scheduled to be completed in April 2017. Being a part of this life-changing cause has urged Ozinga to continue this effort in coming years; the company is working with another nonprofit organization to supply materials for a veteran home in 2017.

Strong, lasting relationships in the community have always been a priority at Ozinga. Its commitment to serving coworkers, customers and neighbors with integrity is the foundation of everything it does. (Click here to learn more about the Built to Honor program.) Ozinga received the award today in Las Vegas during the Awards Luncheon at NRMCA’s annual convention. The company donated its honorarium to Restoration Ministries, an Illinois-based organization that serves at-risk underprivileged you, men and women with histories of addiction and families struggling in poverty.

With ready mixed concrete plants in almost every community in America, NRMCA member companies are making a real difference in the communities they serve. The Concrete Cares Award recognizes these efforts and shines a national spotlight on the positive impact ready mixed concrete companies have in hometowns across the nation. All ready mixed concrete producers that are members of NRMCA are eligible for nomination.