Shawmut Design and Construction partnered with Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island to design and build a dream tree house for Maeve, a 7-year-old who is undergoing treatment for leukemia. Representatives from both Shawmut and Make-A-Wish held a ribbon cutting at the tree house to celebrate the completion of the project.
"Given the skills and resources we have, this wish was perfect for us," said Tom Goemaat, president at Shawmut. "This was a fun, rewarding project for everyone on the team, and all of us at Shawmut are honored that we could work with the organization to help make Maeve's dream come true."
Shawmut vice president of field operations Michael Sanchez led the project, during which the Shawmut team devoted over 300 man hours in two days to build the tree house. The team met with Maeve and her family to get her entire wish list before beginning work on the project. The house includes a tire swing, monkey bars, a slide, porch and four differently-shaped windows. After completion, Shawmut furnished the house with toys, rugs, shelving and a desk donated from a staff member. The firm also supplied items for Maeve's four-year-old brother. Additional materials used to build the tree house were donated by Moynihan Lumber.
"We are honored to grant Maeve's wish for a backyard treehouse," said Charlotte Beattie, CEO of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. "We know that wish experiences like these have a tremendous impact on our wish children, and touch everyone involved in the experience. We are incredibly grateful to Shawmut Design and Construction for bringing Maeve's heartfelt wish to fruition. Support from our generous donors throughout the community enables us to give wish children, like Maeve, the hope, strength, and joy that comes from a wish fulfilled."