FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Event Webpage: 2026 Pennsylvania Construction Hike For Hope
Harrisburg, PA — The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) is proud to announce it is once again partnering with the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania (MBAWPA) to bring the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and its proven suicide-prevention resources to Pennsylvania’s construction industry.
This renewed collaboration reflects a shared commitment to addressing mental health challenges facing construction professionals — a workforce that continues to experience disproportionately high rates of suicide and substance-use related deaths. According to recent industry data highlighted in the REASON Newsletter, a joint publication of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, targeted prevention efforts are beginning to make an impact, with encouraging declines in overdose deaths and early signs of progress in suicide prevention across the construction sector.
“Safety in construction has always meant more than hard hats and harnesses,” said Jon O’Brien, Executive Director, KCA and Co-Chairman of the 2026 Hike For Hope. “By working together with the Master Builders’ Association and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we are reinforcing that mental health and suicide prevention are essential parts of a truly safe jobsite.”
2026 Suicide Prevention Hike for Hope
As part of this effort, KCA and the MBAWPA will jointly host the 2026 Suicide Prevention Hike for Hope on Saturday, May 16, 2026, with two locations across Pennsylvania:
- Settlers Ridge, Pittsburgh — led by the MBAWPA
- Memorial Lake State Park, Lebanon County — led by the KCA
The Hike for Hope brings together construction professionals, families, and community members to raise awareness, honor lives lost, and support suicide-prevention education and research through AFSP.
“The Hike for Hope sends a powerful message — that no one in our industry has to struggle alone,” said Robert McCall, Director of Safety, MBAWPA, and Co-Chairman of the 2026 Hike For Hope. “By hosting events on both sides of the state, we’re expanding awareness and access to life-saving resources for construction workers and their families.”
Expanding Suicide Prevention Resources Across Jobsites
Through this partnership, KCA and the MBAWPA are raising funds for the AFSP and 100% of the proceeds stay in Pennsylvania to help Pennsylvania’s construction workers. Funds support AFSP initiatives like Hard Hat Courage and other construction-focused suicide-prevention programs, including:
- Talk Saves Lives presentations tailored to the construction industry
- Jobsite-ready educational materials and toolbox talks
- Resources that encourage early intervention, peer support, and help-seeking behaviors
AFSP’s Hard Hat Courage program has already reached hundreds of thousands of construction professionals nationwide, helping normalize conversations around mental health and equipping workers with tools to recognize warning signs and support one another.
The KCA and MBAWPA’s collaboration represents a growing movement within the construction industry to treat mental health with the same seriousness as physical safety. Together, these organizations strive to reduce stigma, strengthen support systems, and ultimately save lives.
About Keystone Contractors Association (KCA)
The Keystone Contractors Association represents Pennsylvania’s commercial construction contractors, advocating for policies and programs that support a safe, skilled, and sustainable construction workforce. KCA works closely with industry partners to promote workforce development, safety, and mental well-being across the Commonwealth. KCA Hike For Hope Team.
About the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania
Founded in 1886, the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania represents its region’s commercial construction industry and is committed to advancing safety, education, and workforce initiatives that strengthen the industry and the communities it serves. MBAWPA Yinz Good Hike For Hope Team.
About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the nation’s largest private funder of suicide-prevention research and a leading organization in education, advocacy, and community engagement to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. Pennsylvania Hike For Hope Homepage.
Media Contact: Jon O’Brien, Executive Director
Keystone Contractors Association
Phone: 717-731-6272 Jon@KeystoneContractors.com www.KeystoneContractors.com
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