OUR COMMUNITY
We take pride in being a significant contributor to our community, and we give financially to nonprofits including charities, towns, and other community groups. We also contribute equipment and aggregate materials to charities for their use or to raffle for fundraising.
Perhaps most important, we volunteer our time and allow employees to volunteer their time during work hours to participate in affiliated groups and nonprofit organizations of their choice.
- Shaw Brothers Family Foundation
- Shaw Park
- Big Red
- Camp Sunshine
- Additional Charities
SHAW BROTHERS FAMILY FOUNDATION
Philanthropy has always been woven into the fabric of Jon and Dan Shaw’s business plan. Since the earliest days of the company, giving back to the community has always been a priority. The success of the construction business has led to increased opportunities for generosity. In 2015, Jon and Dan created a vehicle for charity by creating a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Private Foundation called the Shaw Brothers Family Foundation.
Jon and Dan Shaw grew up on a dairy farm in Gorham, Maine, where they learned about caring for animals and stewarding the land. When the opportunity arose to combine their philanthropic endeavors with their love for farming, it was inevitable they would capture the chance. In 2017, Shaw Brothers Family Foundation saved a historical farm property by purchasing 258 acres on the entrance into Gorham.
With the purchase of this parcel, the Shaw Brothers Family Foundation has been able to protect dwindling farmland, preserve and rehabilitate an 1800’s barn, operate an educational farm, all while giving recreational and educational opportunities for the surrounding communities.
SHAW PARK
On December 19, 2005, Shaw Brothers Construction gave the Town of Gorham and its citizens “Shaw Park”, a 7.5-acre community park on the Presumpscot River. The idea originated from Jon and Dan Shaw in the late 1990s while they were proposing a major expansion to Shaw Brothers’ gravel pit and quarry known as “H Pit” off Route 237 in Gorham. Jon and Dan realized that gravel pits and quarries are a necessity of the construction industry and that gravel pit locations are dependent on the earth’s geology. They also recognized that they can be a nuisance to neighbors. Shaw Brothers’ expansion, which included the purchase of riverfront land that could not be excavated, provided an excellent opportunity for Jon and Dan Shaw to give something back to their gravel pit neighbors and to the Gorham community as a whole. We sincerely hope that this gift to our gravel pit neighbors, the citizens of Gorham, and future generations will be enjoyed for a long time to come.
BIG RED
Big Red is a 1937 International fire truck turned Monster. It is the largest truck of its kind measuring 38 feet long, 12 feet 4 inches wide, and 11 feet 9 1/2 inches tall. This “Big Red Monster” weighs in at 35,000 lbs. It has broken several Guinness World Records including the world’s longest and heaviest monster truck. Big Red was originally a ladder truck in service with the Danville, Kentucky Fire Department. The truck is equipped with 100 percent operational fire apparatus including fire extinguishers, fire axes, ladders, spot lights, and a hand-crank siren. Owners Dan and Jon Shaw purchased Big Red for its ability to promote and raise funds for charities.
ADDITIONAL CHARITIES
Each year, we also sponsor the following charities:
- Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with life-threatening Illnesses and their families.
- Susan Curtis Foundation, a summer camp for disadvantaged kids
- Pine Tree Council, Boy Scouts
- Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation, outdoor recreation programs for children and adults with physical disabilities
- Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals
- Windham Neighbors Helping Neighbors
- Boys’ Baseball teams in three towns
- Girls’ Softball teams in three towns
- Children’s Miracle Network
- ALS Association
- Maine Farm Bureau
- Maine Farmland Trust
- Maine Historical Society
Gorham organizations including Gorham Founders Festival, Gorham Parks and Recreation, Gorham Football Boosters, Gorham Youth Soccer Association, Gorham Youth Lacrosse, Gorham Ice Hockey, Gorham Basketball, the Gorham Fire and Rescue, and a Gorham Middle School trip to Washington.
In addition to annual sponsorships, we alleviate hardships and support causes that arise from local emergencies that need heavy equipment. We donate time, equipment and funds to support the Heavy Equipment Operator Program at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center.
We sponsor our employees’ memberships in construction groups and encourage them to take an active role in these groups. Currently, Jon Shaw is a director in the Associated General Contractors of Maine, Dan Shaw is a director at Camp Sunshine and Maine Aggregates, and have employees who are members in AGC of Maine, MBTA, CFMA, ABC, IMA, Gorham Business Exchange. We also have several employees who are local youth sports team coaches.
