From Elevators to Engagement: Forte Construction’s Mission Series Brings Winter Cheer to Brooklyn Seniors While Advancing Local Subway Accessibility Upgrades

Forte Construction Corp., a leading general contracting firm involved in major transit and public works projects throughout downstate New York and Long Island, completed its third philanthropic initiative of the inaugural year of its Mission Series with a visit to a senior center in Gravesend, Brooklyn where winter essentials were distributed to residents.

The Mission Series was developed to create meaningful connections between Forte employees and the communities they serve through hands-on engagement. Each quarter, a designated project team chooses a cause and participates directly, helping to make a lasting positive impact in the community.

This cycle, the designated project team chose to aid the Ahi Ezer Kings Highway Center due to its proximity to the Kings Highway MTA Subway station on the F line, where Forte is currently working with Halmar International to install three new elevators that will improve accessibility for customers with mobility issues.

Thirteen employees from Forte Construction and its affiliate company TAP Electric prepared and delivered winter kits full of hats, gloves, socks, lip balm, hand warmers, and nutritional snacks for the seniors. During their lunch hour, the team visited the Ahi Ezer Kings Highway Center to personally engage with residents and foster community connections, all while spreading holiday cheer.

“We greatly appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity of Forte and TAP Electric for thinking of the seniors of the community,” said Lisa, Manager of the Ahi Ezer Center. “Their hard work installing elevators at our local subway station will make it easier for older residents to travel to medical appointments or visit their families, as well as allow grandchildren in strollers and family members with disabilities to visit us.”

The Ahi Ezer Center is adjacent to the Kings Highway MTA train station. Opened in 1919, the station sits in the heart of the historic Kings Highway Road, a vital Colonial-era route that played a role in the Battle of Brooklyn during the Revolutionary War. Serving several ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Kings Highway is a key stop along the F line for residents looking to visit Coney Island, as well as those commuting to Manhattan and Queens.

Together with Halmar and the MTA, Forte is making this station fully ADA compliant for the first time in its history, rigging three elevator towers to transport riders from street level to the elevated platform. This is a notable step in the New York transportation agency’s goal to make 95% of its subway stations ADA-compliant by 2055.

“The Ahi Ezer Center was selected as it provided a meaningful opportunity to make a positive contribution while supporting seniors — many of whom will likely benefit from the newly installed elevators,” explained Madeline Martinez, Forte’s Assistant Project Manager.

The Forte Mission Series kicked off earlier this year with a project team sponsoring a special movie screening for veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home. Team members accompanied the veterans, bringing with them family members who also have military backgrounds to enhance the experience.

The Mission Series continued in the summer with the sponsorship of a team for the 2025 New York Lymphoma Walk. The Forte/TAP team raised over $5,000 for the event, with 16 Forte team members participating in the walk. The donation total placed the team in the top five fundraising teams at the 2025 event.

“Since launching the Forte Mission Series in 2025, our project teams have consistently gone above and beyond, selecting worthy causes that allow them to connect with the community in more holistic and fulfilling ways,” said Athena Pappas, Forte’s Director of Philanthropy. “This most recent event is a powerful example of the unique and positive effects we can provide to our communities, and we look forward to reaching even greater heights in 2026.”

Forte Construction, renowned for diverse projects across NYC and Long Island, collaborates with key government agencies like MTA, NYC SCA, NYCHA, and DASNY. Forte is an affiliate of TAP Electric, founded in 1969. Forte and its affiliates are headquartered in Islandia, NY and also maintain permanent facilities in Holbrook, Manhattan, and Queens. For more information, visit www.fortecc.com.

source https://zweiglist.com/from-elevators-to-engagement-forte-constructions-mission-series-brings-winter-cheer-to-brooklyn-seniors-while-advancing-local-subway-accessibility-upgrades/