Paving the Way in Our Community

With roots deeply entrenched in the Greater Baltimore community, Gray & Son has become a household name synonymous with quality, pride, and service. At first glance, our service may look like the smoothly paved roads or the freshly excavated earth that we are well known for. However, to our team, the word service also encompasses the our commitment to the community.

Philanthropic Roots

With over a century of history in the area, Gray & Son’s philanthropic efforts have impacted countless organizations. “From the beginning, we’ve always been involved in many different things within our community, ” said Katie McInnes, Vice President of Marketing. “For me to stop and put it all together [in a list] was harder than I realized.” Over the past several years, our team has worked together to graciously offer monetary donations, sponsorships, and volunteered its time in our efforts to give back to an array of initiatives. From local fire departments to the Polar Bear Plunge, the Gray & Son team’s philanthropic interests run the gamut.

One of the longest involvements Gray & Son had was with eMerge, a Maryland-based charity that supports individuals with developmental, physical, and mental health disabilities. An involvement sparked by a familial connection to Down’s Syndrome, Gray & Son Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Bob Webbert sat on the charity’s board for over 30 years.

Another organization that Gray & Son has built a long-standing relationship with is Cool Kids Campaign, a Towson-based charity that provides academic, social, and emotional support to families impacted by a pediatric cancer diagnosis. Company Owner Barbra Webbert proudly sat on the board for 15 years. In addition, Gray & Son participates in the Cool Kids Campaigns’ ‘Tree of Hope’ initiative each year, in which our team members donate gifts to families that the organization serves. Gray & Son is also a major sponsor and participates in the annual Cool Kids celebrity golf tournament.

Growing and Giving

While Gray & Son has a long-standing tradition of community involvement, we hope to grow by encouraging more employee involvement. Employees were polled about current involvement and potential philanthropic interests. Gray & Son employees report that they are involved in community outreach outside of work, aiding organizations and causes such as St. Judes, the ASPCA, and the Red Cross. We hope to be able to harness that and create a workplace environment that allows employees to support causes that are important to them.

Currently, we encourage our team to get involved with several initiatives. Most recently, a team of employees decorated a tree for the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s ‘Festival of Trees’. The aptly named ‘Constructing Christmas’ tree was sold for $300, with all proceeds going to the families and individuals that the institute serves.

Another holiday initiative Gray & Son employees participated in this previous season was Wreaths Across America. Our team has been involved in Wreaths Across America for several years, but this was the first year we actually went to Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens to help lay wreaths on veterans’ graves.

Another initiative that garnered high levels of employee involvement included a supply donation to House of Ruth, an organization that helps women, children, and families who have been victims of domestic abuse and homelessness.

New Year, New Efforts

With the new year upon us, we have visions for what future volunteer efforts will look like. In February, Gray & Son team members will work with the Baltimore Hunger Project. to pack up meals to help fight childhood hunger.

More localized efforts are going to be a top priority this year. In 2021, Gray & Son got involved with the Hereford Zone Business Association, an organization that aims to promote the business and economic climate of northern Baltimore County. Gray & Son proudly participated in the Fourth of July Parade as well as the Fall Fest. We’re excited to get involved with initiatives that are close to home and honor our roots.

As hands-on and in-person volunteer opportunities become more available, the Gray & Son team looks to make them a regular occurrence, hoping to find new ways to grow Gray & Son’s philanthropy. A recent sponsorship of Baltimore County’s new Ag Center Show Ring has sparked a relationship with the organization, something we hope to grow.

It’s safe to say that one of Gray & Son’s New Year’s Resolutions is to continue to pave the way in the community. A long-standing tradition and something more important than ever, charitable giving and volunteer opportunities look to be plentiful in the new year for the Gray & Son team.