<p><a href="http://www.mccarthy.com">McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.</a>, recently hosted its 13th Annual Architect/Engineer Charity Softball Tournament.&nbsp; Under the McCarthy Heart Hats community outreach program, all proceeds from the annual event are donated to a St. Louis charity of the tournament winner's choosing.&nbsp; Since its inception, the event has generated more than $70,000 for area charities.<br /><br />This year, the co-ed tournament held at the Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex attracted participants from 18 local architectural and engineering<br />firms. The combined team of Simms Building Group, Inc. and Trivers Associates captured first place, splitting their winnings of $3,500 between<br />Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center and the Salvation Army.&nbsp; The second place team of Horner &amp; Shifrin team elected to split its $1,500 prize between Kids in the Middle, Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. In addition to the softball competition, a grilling competition<br />rounded out the event. Six grilling teams competed for the Master Griller title, which ultimately went to PayneCrest Electric &amp; Communications.&nbsp; A<br />$1,500 donation will be made to their chosen charity, Epworth Children &amp; Family Services. <br /><br />"Trivers has been a participant in the McCarthy Softball Tournament for a few years now, and it has always been a great experience," commented<br />Architectural Designer Michael Meyer, LEED AP, with Trivers Associates. "The tournament has consistently been a great environment to raise money for charity through fun and competition. The Simms/Trivers team worked together, rising to the championship, while having fun and enjoying the atmosphere all for a great cause."<br /><br />Floyd Simms, president and CEO with Simms Building Group, agreed. "This event exceeded our expectations.&nbsp; From the selection of the venue to the<br />variety of available foods, this affair was first class all the way.&nbsp; The Simms/Trivers team toughed it out to beat over a dozen other teams to win<br />the overall championship, and it was all of course for a great cause."<br /><br />For 13 years, the Architect/Engineer Charity Softball Tournament has generated much needed funds for St. Louis community organizations. In 2008,<br />St. Louis-based architectural and interior design firm The Lawrence Group celebrated as tournament champion, donating winnings to two local charities, Studio STL and Life Skills. Other past recipient organizations have included:&nbsp; Kids in the Middle, Camp Wartburg, Multiple Sclerosis Society,<br />Ranken Jordan, Loyola Academy of St. Louis, St. Patrick Center, Downtown YMCA, St. Louis Shriners Hospital, Alzheimer Association and Breast Cancer Research Foundation.<br /><br />"When we started this event more than a decade ago, we saw it as a fun way to bring the local building professionals together to help make a difference in our community," said Scott Wittkop, president of McCarthy's Central Division.&nbsp; "It is an inspiration to see the impact the tournament continues to have on those participating and the organizations it assists."<br /><br />In addition to McCarthy, the teams participating in this year's softball tournament represented the following companies:&nbsp; Burns &amp; McDonnell; Cannon<br />Design; CH2M-Hill; Chiodini Associates; EDM Inc.; Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), Inc.; Horner &amp; Shifrin, Inc.; Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.; KPFF Consulting Engineers; The Lawrence Group; Maverick Technologies,LLC; McClure Engineering Associates; Oates Associates, Inc.; Peckham Guyton Albers &amp; Viets, Inc. (PGAV); Ross &amp; Baruzzini, Inc.; Simms Building Group, Inc.; Trivers Associates; and Volz Engineering.<br /><br />The six teams competing in the grilling competition were:&nbsp; Hilti North America; Industrial Sheet Metal Erectors, Inc.; Maverick Technologies, LLC;<br />Negwer Materials, Inc.; PayneCrest Electric &amp; Communications; and T.J. Wies Contracting, Inc. <br /><br />Founded in 1864, McCarthy is one of the oldest privately held construction firms in the nation.&nbsp; The McCarthy Heart Hats community outreach program is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and recognizing McCarthy employees' volunteer efforts in employees' communities.</p>