Lumity’s impact is fueled in no small way by the support of our corporate partners. These relationships are invaluable. They provide opportunities, insights, job skills, and life experiences for our participants. For companies like Creospan, these partnerships can help build their network. 

Lumity first appeared on Creospan’s radar about 10 years ago. “We were working with a leading Fortune 100 company, and they invited us to attend Lumity’s annual benefit,” explained Brij Shah, Creospan’s President and COO. “We met Lumity’s Executive Director Kara Kennedy and learned more about the ways in which Lumity was bringing opportunities into communities. It felt like the entire Chicago corporate community was coming together to help accomplish this, and we wanted to be a part of the cause.” 

Brij and his team began brainstorming and asking questions like— “What can we do? How can we bring opportunities to these kids? How can we get them thinking about going into the IT industry, even if they don’t have the means to go to college?” 

They decided on a pilot program that would introduce young people to quality assurance in the software development life cycle. The initial pilot program was both successful and eye-opening. “We were impressed by how smart, analytical, and driven these young people were. At the same time, we were struck by how difficult their lives were.” Some were struggling to meet basic daily needs for food and shelter. Many didn’t know how to use a computer effectively when they started the program. “Our takeaway was that we have to do as much as we can as an organization to help,” explained Brij. 

The Creospan team worked alongside Lumity to make sure the participants learned and grew. Creospan instructors like Bill Casperson helped teach the basics of computers, programming, and testing. They celebrated the program’s first big success when one of the trainees landed a full-time job working for a Creospan competitor. 

Since that first win, Brij and his colleagues have been engaged in various ways. In addition to sponsoring Lumity’s annual benefit, they have served as mentors, coaches, and event volunteers. They have also hired Lumity graduates. 

“I’ve always felt there are a lot of brilliant young people right in our backyard,” said Brij. “We don’t have to go to the other side of the world to get talent, but we need to figure out how we can identify this aspiring talent. They may need a little hand-holding or mentoring for a few weeks or months, but they’re ambitious, and they’re hungry. They just need an opportunity to show what they can do.” 

“Our partnership with Lumity has been deeply impactful for Creospan,” says Brij. “It’s helped us build meaningful relationships and strengthened our presence in the community. What makes this partnership stand out is that we’re not just giving back; we’re actively engaged. We’re contributing our time, expertise, and leadership to create real change in our community.” He adds that this commitment doesn’t go unnoticed. “Our employees are excited about the impact we’re able to make and so are our clients. When we talk about our work with Lumity, it resonates; it shows we’re invested in something bigger than ourselves. It’s not just good for us, but it’s great for our local community.”

Want to make a lasting impact? Join companies like Creospan in empowering the next generation through Lumity.

Read more about the ways your company can get involved.