AEC Cares’ Project San Diego: Empowering women and building futures

For one day each year, AEC Cares—a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization led and supported by ConstructConnect—brings together architecture, engineering, and construction professionals from across North America for one shared purpose: to give back. The AEC Cares annual day of service coincides with the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design each year, and in 2026, the event is in San Diego.

On Wednesday, June 10, AEC Cares will take on revitalizing Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego’s Homeless Women’s Services. Named Project San Diego, this renovation will breathe new life into a space dedicated to providing a safe, supportive environment that helps women regain stability and dignity and make a fresh start. 

This isn’t just a renovation—it’s an investment in the future. With the help of local contractors, designers, and building material suppliers, AEC Cares will transform Rachel’s Women’s Center into an even more safe, welcoming, and supportive space, demonstrating the power of collective effort.

About Rachel's Women's Center: 

• The center is a drop-in day center that has served women who are unhoused in San Diego for more than 40 years.
• It provides essential services such as showers, laundry, behavioral health support, and trauma-informed case management. 

Key statistics: 

• 1,147 unduplicated individuals served 

  • 96 women moved into permanent housing.
  • 181,660 supportive services provided.

  1,116 volunteers involved. 

By collaborating with local contractors, designers, building material suppliers, and volunteers, AEC Cares aims to boost the day center as a safe and welcoming location to find support. The project’s collaborators will work toward making spaces that help women regain stability, dignity, and independence.

How you can get involved 

AEC Cares invites sponsors, donors, and volunteers to join Project San Diego to make a lasting impact on the lives of homeless women by revitalizing Rachel’s Women’s Center. This isn’t just a renovation—it’s an investment in the future. With the help of local contractors, designers, and building material suppliers, AEC Cares will transform the day center for women. This initiative demonstrates the power of collective effort in building meaningful spaces for those in need.

For more information, visit AEC cares! 

Sponsorship opportunities: 

Sponsors can donate funds, materials, or services. Contact info@aeccares.com to coordinate donations. 

1. Room Sponsorship ($10,000):

   Sponsor one of four unique spaces: the Lounge, Dining Room, Donation Center, or Boutique.

   Benefits include branded plaques, media recognition, logo placement on promotional materials, VIP seating at the event’s luncheon, and speaking opportunities.

2. Gold Sponsorship ($5,000):

   Includes logo placement on promotional materials, social media recognition, sponsor banners, and VIP lunch seating.

3. Silver Sponsorship ($2,500): 

   Includes logo placement on promotional materials, sponsor banners, and event shirts.

4. Bronze Sponsorship ($1,000):

   Includes logo placement on promotional materials, sponsor banners, and event shirts.

5. A-la-carte donations: 

   Contributions of tools, technology, furniture, and other materials are welcomed.

   Materials needed: Paint supplies, structural materials (e.g., drywall, metal studs), interior items (e.g., furniture, lighting, flooring), and exterior landscaping materials.

Leadership

The AEC Cares Board of Directors includes professionals from ConstructConnect, AIA Colorado, and other architectural and construction organizations.

AIA does not sponsor or endorse any enterprise, whether public or private, operated for profit. Further, no AIA officer, director, committee member, or employee, or any of its component organizations in his or her official capacity, is permitted to approve, sponsor, endorse, or do anything that may be deemed or construed to be an approval, sponsorship, or endorsement of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.