Our Community

The Pence Gallery's mission is to enrich the community by showcasing high-caliber art exhibits, fostering the growth of local and regional artists, and providing educational programs for visitors of all ages.

As an artist himself, Ken understands the profound impact that exposure to creative, non-commercial visual art can have. With its thoughtful curation and central location, the Pence Gallery serves as an accessible and valuable resource for the entire community. Ken proudly serves on the board of this local institution and encourages you to visit and experience all that the Pence has to offer!

STEAC’s mission is to provide immediate, short-term assistance with basic necessities to Yolo County families and individuals living below the poverty line. This support includes help with rent, utilities, food, and other essential needs. STEAC is also dedicated to raising social awareness within the community and creating opportunities for local citizens to lend a hand to those in need.

At MAK, we are proud to partner with STEAC year-round, organizing food drives and sponsoring multiple families through STEAC’s Adopt-A-Family holiday campaign. Together, we aim to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our neighbors.

Cool Davis is a nonprofit organization committed to inspiring our community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to a changing climate, and live more sustainably. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, Cool Davis empowers individuals, businesses, and organizations to adopt energy-saving practices, reduce waste, and build resilience. By fostering innovative solutions and engaging the community, Cool Davis plays a crucial role in addressing the climate crisis right here at home.

At MAK Design + Build, sustainability has been a core value since day one. Driven by his passion for green building, our founder, Ken Kirsch, has been actively involved with Cool Davis, serving on its board in various roles over the years. Supporting organizations like Cool Davis aligns with MAK’s commitment to a sustainable future, ensuring that our work reflects not only the needs of the families we serve but also the well-being of our planet.

Camp Kesem’s innovative, fun-filled programs offer children a supportive community of peers who understand their unique challenges, creating lasting positive impacts. In addition to serving families, Camp Kessem provides valuable training, support, and leadership development opportunities for its student leaders, equipping them to deliver life-changing experiences to families across the nation.

MAK’s connection to Camp Kessem began in 2016 when Ken and Ellen’s daughter became a student volunteer. Since then, this incredible organization has remained close to MAK’s heart, with both Ken and Ellen’s daughter and son serving as counselors and continuing to stay involved with the Cal chapter. Locally, the Davis and Sacramento chapters provide vital support to families within our immediate community.

Davis Community Meals & Housing (DCMH) provides shelter, housing, and essential services to those in need, leading the way in addressing housing insecurity in our community. Their innovative facility, Paul’s Place, offers a vertical continuum of care, including day services, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing, all designed to help individuals move from homelessness to stability. At MAK Design + Build, we’re inspired by DCMH’s mission to create spaces that offer safety, dignity, and a sense of home to everyone.

Supporting those facing housing insecurity has long been a core value for the Kirsch family. Ken’s mother, Mary Anne, co-founded the Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter in 2005, now known as HEART (Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rehousing Team) of Davis, and this commitment to helping others continues today. Ken and Ellen’s son, Silas, now works full-time with DCMH, providing support services for their Permanent Supportive Housing program. As a design-build firm that understands the transformative power of home, MAK is proud to support DCMH and its vital work in the community.

Tree Davis is committed to enhancing and expanding the urban forest by inspiring and empowering the community to plant and care for trees. For more than 20 years, Tree Davis has educated volunteers on how to nurture and maintain trees, recognizing their essential role in our lives. Trees provide countless benefits—they cool our homes, purify our air and water, provide food and shelter, and so much more. But trees can’t thrive without people! Building a thriving urban forest requires a collective effort, and Tree Davis continues to lead the way, offering education on planting, pruning, care, and monitoring.

The lush urban canopy is one of the most cherished and comforting features of both Davis and Sacramento. MAK became involved with Tree Davis early on, with Ellen serving on its board in 2006 and 2007. Supporting this incredible organization has been a privilege, and we’ve proudly continued our partnership ever since.