HBG Design’s KBCI Volunteer Days: Designing Calming Spaces for Fred Finch Youth & Family Services
Part 2: San Diego Brings Design Thinking to Community Impact
At HBG Design, the Kirk Bobo Creating Impact (KBCI) Grant and Outreach Initiative reflects our firm’s enduring belief that great design extends beyond buildings—it has the power to change lives. Through volunteerism, creativity, and compassion, our teams across the country are working to make meaningful contributions to the communities we serve.
This fall, our San Diego office continued that mission with a hands-on volunteer design challenge benefiting Fred Finch Youth & Family Services, a long-term community partner dedicated to improving the lives of children, adolescents, and families facing complex behavioral and mental health challenges.
Partnering with Purpose: Supporting Fred Finch Youth & Family Services
HBG Design has partnered with Fred Finch since 2019 through our annual HBGives virtual donation drive and previous KBCI volunteer projects. The nonprofit’s San Diego Dual Diagnosis Program, located in Spring Valley, provides a residential treatment environment and specialized non-public school for youth ages 12 to 22 who have both intellectual disabilities and significant mental health needs. 
Their dedicated staff delivers individualized, trauma-informed care that helps youth build stability, independence, and hope for the future.
In 2019, HBG Design completed a master plan for the Dual Diagnosis campus, including the creation of a tranquil outdoor living area designed to offer residents a safe, restorative connection to nature.
This year, Fred Finch invited our San Diego team back—this time to turn their attention indoors.
A Design Challenge for Healing Spaces
The organization asked for HBG’s expertise in updating the interiors of two residential cottages that had experienced years of wear and tear. The request came with a clear but complex goal: to create interiors that feel calming and supportive—not institutional—while adhering to essential safety and durability standards.
“It’s one of those projects where every decision carries deeper meaning,” said one team member. “We wanted to show that healing environments can still feel warm, personal, and dignified.”
Materials had to be resilient, non-breakable, and carefully selected to minimize any potential risks for residents experiencing crisis.
Our San Diego team embraced this as a design challenge and split into two creative groups to develop thoughtful concepts tailored to the unique needs of Fred Finch’s program participants. Each group approached the project from a different angle—balancing empathy, functionality, and safety with inviting design aesthetics.
Designing with Compassion and Creativity
Both design teams presented their ideas directly to the staff at Fred Finch, who were deeply moved by the level of care and consideration behind each concept. The proposed designs incorporated:
- Soothing color palettes inspired by nature, promoting calm and emotional balance.
- Durable, anti-ligature materials chosen for safety and longevity.
- Flexible furnishings designed to adapt to individual needs and reduce environmental stress.
- Artwork and sensory elements that provide positive distractions and visual comfort.
Fred Finch loved the creative solutions and has already begun implementing portions of the HBG proposals, with plans to expand these updates in 2026.
Continuing a Meaningful Partnership
This collaboration represents more than just a volunteer day—it’s an ongoing relationship built on shared values of compassion, respect, and empowerment.
As HBG Design’s San Diego team continues to partner with Fred Finch Youth & Family Services, the goal remains clear: to support spaces that uplift and restore those who need it most.
Through KBCI, our firm honors the legacy of co-founder Kirk Bobo, whose belief in the transformative power of design continues to guide our community engagement today.
Together, we’re using design to make a lasting impact.
HBG Design’s 2025 KBCI Volunteer Days: Beautifying The Pinch District with Memphis City Beautiful
Part 1: Memphis Leads the Way in Community Impact and Urban Renewal
At HBG Design, our commitment to community engagement shines through the Kirk Bobo Creating Impact (KBCI) Grant and Outreach Initiative—an annual program named in honor of co-founder Kirk Bobo. This initiative blends volunteerism, financial support, and design expertise to create lasting positive change in the communities where we live and work.
This year, our Memphis, San Diego, and Dallas offices each teamed up with local nonprofits to make a tangible difference through KBCI Volunteer Days. First up, our Memphis team took to the heart of downtown for a project that brought new life to one of the city’s most visible streets.
On Friday, October 24, our Memphis office partnered with Memphis City Beautiful, the nation’s first and longest-running beautification commission, for a day dedicated to cleaning and greening North Main Street—just steps away from the iconic Memphis Pyramid.
Memphis City Beautiful organized the event alongside their partner organizations, Memphis Native Tree Works and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, bringing together a coalition of volunteers dedicated to enhancing the downtown environment.
Our HBG Design volunteers rolled up their sleeves to:
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🌿 Replant and refresh large planters lining North Main Street with vibrant new greenery,
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🧹 Clear litter and debris from sidewalks and curbs, and
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✨ Restore curb appeal and pedestrian appeal to one of Memphis’s most historic corridors.
What began as a morning of teamwork quickly transformed into a celebration of collaboration, camaraderie, and civic pride. The group’s efforts created a more inviting experience for residents, visitors, and local businesses along this key downtown thoroughfare.
“It’s amazing to see how a few hours of teamwork and creativity can make such a visible difference,” said one volunteer. “We’re proud to play a small part in keeping Memphis beautiful.”
Working Together for a Greener Memphis
Founded in 1930, Memphis City Beautiful continues to set the national standard for environmental stewardship and community pride. Their mission—to create a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful Memphis—perfectly aligns with HBG Design’s belief in the power of design and service to improve quality of life.
This year’s effort was strengthened through collaboration with Memphis Native Tree Works, an organization that promotes the use of native plants and trees to support sustainable urban ecosystems, and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, which works to enhance the livability and connectivity of the city’s core neighborhoods.
Together, these groups—and our HBG volunteers—helped re-energize North Main Street through teamwork and shared vision.
Continuing Our Partnership with Memphis City Beautiful
Founded in 1930, Memphis City Beautiful continues to set the standard for environmental stewardship and community pride. Its mission—to create a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful Memphis—aligns perfectly with HBG Design’s belief in the power of design and service to improve quality of life.
This ongoing partnership allows our team to combine hands-on volunteerism with a shared vision for urban renewal and civic responsibility.
Honoring Kirk Bobo’s Legacy
Through each KBCI project, we honor Kirk Bobo’s enduring legacy of giving back. His belief that design should make a positive impact—in the built environment and beyond—continues to inspire how we engage with our communities today.
This year’s North Main Street cleanup not only beautified a key downtown area but also strengthened the bond between our colleagues, our city, and the greater purpose behind our work.
Looking Ahead
With Memphis leading the way, our San Diego and Dallas offices will soon host their own KBCI Volunteer Days, each partnering with local organizations to uplift their surrounding communities. Stay tuned for more stories of service, creativity, and impact as the KBCI initiative continues across the country.
Together, we’re transforming communities—one project, one partnership, and one act of service at a time.