04-19-2013 - The Architecture, Construction and Engineering, Mentorship Program's spring fundraiser to be held April 19

The Architecture, Construction and Engineering, Mentorship Program's (ACE) spring fundraiser will be from 4-7 p.m. on April 19th, to raise funds to support the local chapter. ACE Mentorship is a program for mentoring high school students and inspiring them to pursue careers in design and construction. The fundraiser will consist of auctioning off three playhouses designed and built by the 2012-2013 ACE Mentorship Class. The class consists of 18 junior and senior high school students from Rush Henrietta, Brockport, Rochester City, West Irondequoit, East Irondequoit, Wayne Central, Churchville Chili, and Greece Central school districts. Several local companies have donated materials for the event this year including financial support and volunteer time to support the program. Bausch and Lomb, and Morse Lumber have donated raw materials, The Pike Company, LaBella Associates and Marathon Engineering have offered financial support and SWBR Architects, LaBella Associates, LeCesse and Pike Construction Cos. have all volunteered staff and mentors. Buckingham Properties is donating the site for the fundraiser at 1100 University Ave. Participants meet from September to the end of February every two weeks for two hours. They are mentored and educated by local volunteers in the architecture and engineering industry to develop skills in construction documentation, drawings, structural engineering, cost estimating, civil engineering, design critiques and to build the playhouses that will be auctioned off. The program's founder in the area, Michael Short, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, of LaBella, Associates says, "Approximately 140 students have gone through the program year to date and we are very proud of their efforts and commitment to investigating a possible career in architecture and engineering. It's a workforce development program that will benefit the entire community." Several local companies have donated materials for the event this year including financial support and volunteer time to support the program. Bausch and Lomb, and Morse Lumber have donated raw materials, The Pike Company, LaBella Associates and Marathon Engineering have offered financial support and SWBR Architects, LaBella Associates, LeCesse and Pike Construction Cos. have all volunteered staff and mentors. Buckingham Properties is donating the site for the fundraiser at 1100 University Ave. In addition to the playhouse auction, an annual golf tournament will be held to raise money for the local program. Tickets prices and sponsorship packages for the spring fundraiser will be announced shortly.