Every strong foundation begins with someone who believes in what can be built. For Hope Academy, that foundation was poured—literally and figuratively—by F.A. Wilhelm Construction, this year’s Faces of Hope Award Recipient.
As Indiana’s only recovery high school celebrates 20 years, it’s fitting to honor a partner whose belief in Hope has never wavered. Wilhelm helped raise the walls of Hope Academy’s very first home inside the Fairbanks Recovery Center. But their impact reaches far beyond brick and mortar. It’s been woven through two decades of generosity, mentorship, and belief in what young people in recovery can achieve when they have access to the right tools and support.
For more than a century, F.A. Wilhelm Construction has built structures that shape skylines and strengthen communities. Their reputation for quality and integrity is matched only by their commitment to people. Whether funding scholarships, mentoring future leaders, or supporting local nonprofits, Wilhelm’s core values of commitment, integrity, leadership, safety, community, and innovation, guide everything they do.
That commitment has shown up time and again for Hope Academy. When the school needed a construction partner, Wilhelm said yes. When Hope needed advocates, Phil Kenney, longtime chief executive of F.A. Wilhelm Construction, and his wife, Colleen Kenney, answered the call.
Through their leadership and generosity, the Kenney family has become part of the fabric of Hope Academy by championing its mission and guiding its growth. In fact, when students needed to see that the world still had room for them, the Kenneys opened their lake house and their hearts, reminding them what joy and belonging can feel like.
“Building a structure that helps people improve their lives, especially young people, is very special to me and the entire Wilhelm organization,” said Phil Kenney, who led the company for more than two decades and continues to serve as CEO.
Phil first learned about Hope Academy through community leaders Pat Galyan and Jim Malarney, who shared a vision for a high school where students in recovery from substance use disorder could succeed. What began as a construction project soon became a shared belief in the school and its students.
“My mom and the entire Wilhelm family have always believed that you need to give each kid a chance,” Kenney said. “Hope Academy is clearly a place that allows kids to succeed. I’ve also seen firsthand how a teenager with an addiction can affect an entire family. Hope Academy is a place that allows an entire family to succeed.”
From sponsoring events and supporting Hope Academy’s inclusion in the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Giving Guide to quietly stepping up whenever there’s a need, Wilhelm’s commitment has been constant. Their partnership has helped sustain Hope Academy through the challenges that come with growth—and through it all, they’ve remained focused on the students and their families.
“For any new organization, the first three years are always the toughest,” Kenney said. “I hope our support in both the early years and more recent years has allowed Hope Academy to develop a financial base that allows them to keep serving kids in recovery far into the future.”
Twenty years later, Hope Academy may have a new home, but its foundation was built long ago with Wilhelm’s craftsmanship, care, and belief in what was possible. What began as a construction project has become a lasting partnership that helped shape the future of every young person who’s walked through Hope’s doors since.
Hope Academy proudly recognizes F.A. Wilhelm Construction as the 2025 Faces of Hope Award Recipient, honoring their extraordinary commitment, generosity, and two decades of building hope that lasts.
