Giving Back to the Community: A Tradition We Live By
Community involvement has always been at the heart of Young Construction. For decades, our team has invested time, expertise, and resources into supporting the organizations that strengthen Santa Barbara. From board leadership and volunteer service to long-term partnerships with nonprofits, giving back isn’t an occasional effort; it’s a core part of who we are.
1. Leadership Through Service: Supporting Local Boards With Expertise
Many nonprofits rely on board members who bring practical, hands-on experience, especially in facilities, planning, and long-term infrastructure. In Santa Barbara, construction expertise is often in high demand, and our team has proudly stepped up to meet that need.
Ted Bruckner, who has long been involved with the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, exemplifies this commitment. Before joining the board of trustees, Ted volunteered in the Foodbank warehouse and assisted with food distribution programs. Today, he serves on the Foodbank’s building committee, helping guide improvements to the organization’s new Goleta warehouse facility. His contributions support programs that directly address hunger and food insecurity throughout the region.
Bob Young also has a strong history of board service, previously supporting the Mental Wellness Center during a pivotal period of organizational growth. He served on the board while the organization developed the facility it occupies today, which includes a safe housing component. His construction insight provided valuable guidance as the nonprofit expanded its impact and strengthened its capacity to serve the community. These roles reflect our belief that leadership doesn’t just happen on the jobsite. Leadership happens wherever expertise can make a difference.
2. Strengthening Community Through Sailing
For us, community also extends to the water. Young Construction is actively involved in the Santa Barbara Yacht Club, supporting the club’s charitable programs and youth initiatives. In addition, SBYC hosts events such as the annual Harbor Festival and other activities throughout the waterfront, contributing to the vibrancy and well-being of the greater community. We’ve had a longstanding relationship with the Club, going back to the days when Bob Young was Commodore, where he played an active leadership role and helped expand access to sailing and maritime education for local youth. Each year, we proudly participate in the SBYC Charity Regatta, now in its 20th year. The event has raised more than $3 million for Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Santa Barbara, ensuring essential end-of-life care is available to families throughout the region. The regatta brings together local sailors, businesses, and volunteers, and demonstrates what a community can achieve when people unite around a cause.
We also support the Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation, an organization dedicated to teaching seamanship, teamwork, and responsibility. These values mirror the qualities we look for in our own team members and serve as invaluable life skills for young people on and off the water.
3. Partnership with the Hutton Parker Foundation
A particularly meaningful partnership for us has been with the Hutton Parker Foundation, an organization renowned for its support of local nonprofits through affordable real estate and collaborative community spaces.
Led by the late Tom Parker, a close friend of Young Construction, the foundation has provided stable, below-market facilities for nonprofits across Santa Barbara County. By leasing affordable real estate, the foundation allows organizations to focus on their missions rather than the burden of high operating costs. Over the years, these spaces have supported nonprofits such as the Santa Barbara Foundation and Antioch University, among others. Young Construction has also completed significant work within these properties. These projects were more than construction jobs; they were opportunities to strengthen nonprofit infrastructure and support the long-term health of the community.
A Culture of Giving Back
Giving back is woven into our culture and history. Whether through board leadership, charitable events, youth programs, or nonprofit partnerships, our commitment to Santa Barbara extends far beyond our job sites. We are proud to support the people and organizations that make this community stronger — and we look forward to continuing that work for years to come.