Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, we introduce you to the Midtown Assistance Center (MAC) of Atlanta. MAC is a non-profit that provides emergency assistance to low-income working people and helps avert homelessness and hunger. MAC is a small but mighty organization that specializes in preventing hunger and homelessness in 10 of the highest poverty zip codes in Atlanta. “MAC works fast, often making payments within days of request which is crucial to preventing evictions,” says Chris Ferguson, director of development for the organization. “We also prevent hunger through our food assistance program which includes our food pantry and grocery gift cards. We are excited to have a new partnership with DoorDash to provide free delivery of groceries to those we serve.” “We are excited to be able to expand our food assistance program and hope to continue to grow it. We want to do a better job of keeping in stock high-need (and often expensive) items in our food pantry like beef, deli meat, vegetable oil, and laundry detergent,” says Ferguson. “MAC also supports people who have new jobs or are returning to work. Providing MARTA (transit) passes helps them get to interviews and when hired, to work each day. The nonprofit also provides gift cards to stores for uniform items. The idea is to knock down any barriers that prevent someone from starting a new job.” Jonathan’s story “Given our longstanding status and reputation in the community, word of mouth is how a lot of people new to Atlanta hear about us,” says Ferguson. That is how Jonathan, who had been homeless, heard about MAC. He had recently moved from Philadelphia, thinking he would have a place to stay. It turned out that place was not a good environment for him as he worked to continue nine months of sobriety. Jonathan, reached out to MAC for help with MARTA (transit) passes, nonslip work shoes, black pants, and some hygiene products for a new job. “He filled out our paperwork and we turned around and provided him with three weeks of MARTA to get him to his first paycheck and a gift card to Walmart for his uniform. We also gave him deodorant, detergent, socks, underwear, and a bit of food to support his effort to keep the new job,” Ferguson said. “A week later, he was accepted to a housing program since he is now working full time. We will provide him with some cleaning supplies and food to stock up his pantry and fridge.” Thanks to MAC, Jonathan is on his way to a more stable, healthier life. Support from Yardi helps MAC’s mission “Yardi’s generosity is much appreciated,” says Ferguson. “MAC was able to respond to the surge in need at the end of 2021 thanks to Yardi’s donation. MAC continues to respond to the increased need in Atlanta caused by rising rents, inflation, and the lingering effect of the COVID-19.” “We are so appreciative of Stacy Sinatra and the whole nonprofit Committee for supporting our application.” How you can get involved “Lots of your neighbors are having a tough time right now and some might be at risk of eviction which does not typically fit into a stereotypical box. If you have the capacity to give, volunteer, etc. please do. If you need help, please reach out to wherever you feel comfortable. The generosity of the community is heartwarming,” shares Ferguson.  MAC relies on dozens of volunteers to accomplish its work in the community. “We need volunteers in the office during the week, which we know can...

Yardi is making a significant donation to help the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) protect and care for the largest private conservation project in the country’s history – the Boreal Wildlands project in northern Ontario. The Yardi donation will help NCC permanently protect an area twice the size of the city of Toronto. NCC, which is dedicated to accelerating conservation, restoring ecosystems and caring for biodiversity, will execute the project in collaboration with communities, government, Indigenous Peoples and others. Boreal forests comprise coniferous and deciduous trees, as well as deep peatlands that counter global warming by removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Species at risk find safe haven among habitats in the project area that includes wetlands, more than 100 lakes and more than 1,300 kilometers of rivers and shoreline. “Thank you, Yardi, for funding the project and enabling us to purchase and protect more than 1,450 square kilometers of Boreal Wildlands for future generations,” said Catherine Grenier, NCC’s president and CEO. “Yardi commends NCC’s dedication to slowing climate change and is pleased to support the transformational Boreal Wildlands project, whose impact will extend far beyond Canada,” said Peter Altobelli, vice president and general manager of Yardi Canada Ltd. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the country’s unifying force for nature. NCC seeks solutions to the twin crises of rapid biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale, permanent land conservation. As a trusted partner, NCC works with people, communities, businesses and government to protect and care for our country’s most important natural areas. Since 1962, NCC has brought Canadians together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares. To learn more,...

Continuing a longstanding focus on education, Yardi is pleased to announce the establishment of new scholarships at four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Atlanta and Raleigh, cities that are also home to Yardi offices. There are 107 colleges in the United States that are identified by the U.S. Department of Education as HBCUs. Most were established in the Southern U.S. prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and were created to provide opportunities to Black Americans who were excluded from attending other higher education institutions during segregation. HBCUs are known for providing diverse and inclusive communities of scholarship, strong academic preparedness for post-college life and rewarding student and alumni experiences. HBCUs Morehouse College, Spelman College, North Carolina Central University and Shaw University will be home to four-year full tuition scholarships funded by Yardi that will begin in Fall 2022. Yardi already supports secondary education in its hometown of Santa Barbara, California through its support of the UC Santa Barbara School of Engineering, Santa Barbara City College, CSU Channel Islands, and the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation. Reflecting Yardi’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, Yardi’s executive team decided to support secondary education at HBCUs. A working group of Yardi employees, James Armour, Jackie Jones and Adrian Paul, led the effort to identify the best institutions to fund and the scope of the scholarships, supported by philanthropic leads Liana Rao and Arnie Brier. “Expanding our commitment to continuing education by funding full scholarships at HBCUs is incredibly important to the company,” said Rao. “These scholarships exemplify our corporate commitment to diversity and inclusion at Yardi. We hire talented folks from all four of these schools and are excited to expand our partnership with each university.” James Armour, Finance Director in Yardi’s Atlanta office, commented on the critical impact that support of HBCU students can provide. “In life, we have different starting lines and some people start ahead of others. I think this is just one step in moving that starting line for those who are at the back. I see this is as life changing for the recipients that will be receiving these scholarships. They will be that much closer to their goals,” Armour said. Jackie Jones, a Senior HR Manager in Yardi’s Raleigh office and a graduate of NCCU, described the significant impact attending an HBCU had on her college experience and life. “The HBCU experience, for me, was nurturing but also provided lessons at every turn,” Jones recalled. “I still attend homecoming events each year when I can. I made friends during college who are still among my best friends today.” Marcus Rutherford, a member of Yardi’s corporate training team, attended Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU in North Carolina, said that his experience at the school has empowered his future. “It’s a legacy that I hold near and dear to my heart. As an alumnus I can encourage dreamers wanting to attend college to believe in their dreams. Don’t just reach for the stars. Be the star,” Rutherford said.Learn more about HBCUs and more about Yardi’s corporate philanthropy...

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today we introduce you to the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), Canada’s largest social housing provider. They aim to provide clean, safe, well-maintained, affordable homes for residents. Through collaboration and with residents’ needs at the forefront, TCHC connects residents to services and opportunities and help foster great neighborhoods where people can thrive. The Toronto Community Housing leads with respect, accountability, community collaboration, integrity, and accessibility for persons with disabilities. TCHC also has several programs for children and young people such as after-school programs to scholarships. “Yardi is a generous supporter of the Investing in Our Diversity Scholarships program with eight young people receiving Yardi Canada Diversity Scholarships in 2022,” says Toshania Williams, Supervisor of Program Supports and Implementation at TCHC. Funds from Yardi will help the organization meet its goals this year and allow tenants to pursue their educational and career dreams. “Our priorities for the year to come are to provide better engagement opportunities to young people to build education, employment, and social and leadership skill development,” said Williams. “Investing in strategies that engage youth in positive activities that lead to personal growth and community development in areas of safety, leadership engagement, recreation, and economic development.” Fiza’s Toronto Community Housing story Fiza Qazi is a tenant of TCHC who recently received the Yardi Canada Diversity Scholarship and hasambitions to work towards a career in technology management. “Fiza is passionate about technology and coding and is currently attending Toronto Metropolitan University to obtain a business degree,” shares Williams. “Over the years Yardi has gifted our tenants with technology, scholarships, and more,” says Williams. “We publicized our relationship with Yardi in media releases, social media posts, and our 2021 Annual Report.” Volunteer opportunities in Toronto Toronto Community Housing welcomes volunteers for general support for programming and events. Yardi employees that wish to volunteer can send Debra Shaw an email at  [email protected]. A screening may be needed so be sure to visit the Toronto Police Services for more information and requirements. Learn more about Toronto Community Housing at torontohousing.ca, and find future non-profit profiles at...

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, let’s learn more about Island Harvest Food Bank in Melville, NY. Island Harvest Food Bank provides healthy food and support services to hundreds of thousands of Long Island veterans, seniors, and families through both direct delivery programs and through a network of approximately 300 soup kitchens, food pantries, and other emergency feeding programs. “Increased need across Long Island, coupled with skyrocketing food costs and supply chain issues, have added additional challenges for Island Harvest to ensure that we are able to provide healthy food to those in need,” shared Joan Flynn, Business Engagement Manager for the Food Bank. “The cost of food has increased by more than 10 percent over the past three months alone. The cost of fuel for our trucks to pick-up and deliver food has increased by more than 94 percent since last year. As the food industry continues to make shifts in its business model, the amount of donated food that we receive has dropped dramatically.” Support from Yardi and other donors is crucial during this difficult time. “Generous funding from Yardi will support the purchase and distribution of healthy food and product and the provision of supportive services to Long Islanders experiencing food insecurity,” Flynn said. Since 2017, funding from Yardi has supported the distribution of more than 175,000 meals to Long Islanders in need.In addition, regional Yardi employees have donated their time by collecting food and funds for Island Harvest and providing volunteer support.   Providing food security On a daily basis, Island Harvest staff encounter Long Islanders struggling to survive, struggling to put food on the table, or facing the unenviable choice of between buying medicine, gas for the car to get to work, and buying food. “People are finding ways to survive and employing coping strategies like watering down food and drinks to make them go further or selling possessions just to buy food,” Flynn said. One such story is that of a woman who works in Melville, where the Food Bank is located. Her husband, a veteran, passed away seven years ago, leaving her with two children, and no insurance. Despite working full-time, she hasn’t been able to get on her feet, and mostly all of her paycheck goes to pay the mortgage and property taxes. “Afraid and embarrassed to stop in and ask for help, she drove past our Melville facility numerous times before finally working up the courage to come in. We directed her to a local food pantry in East Northport, and since her husband served in the military, we are actively connecting her through our Operation: HOPE program to see if she may be eligible for certain veteran’s benefits, and services.” “We provided the family with food, offered her assistance in applying for SNAP and other benefits, but most of all we offered comfort and hope in knowing that she is not alone, and that help, along with a kind word, is always a phone call away.” A pivotal moment Flynn shared that this is a critical time in Island Harvest Food Bank’s nearly 30-year history as programs, services, community partnerships, and the number of member agencies served are growing exponentially in the wake of the pandemic. Island Harvest recently purchased a new facility, more than doubling its office and warehouse space, which will enable the organization to collect, sort, store and distribute more food and product, thereby serving more people in need. “But more importantly, Island Harvest also seeks to empower our clients to transition from uncertainty to stability with an array...

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, learn about Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, which increases access to healthcare for Atlanta’s youth and Georgia’s families, while at the same time, offering comfort and hope during difficult medical journeys. “The mission of Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities (ARMHC) is to nurture the health and well-being of children and families,” said Alissa Scherb, Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations for the organization. “Since opening the initial Atlanta Ronald McDonald House in 1979, ARMHC has remained dedicated to fulfilling this mission by providing housing and support services for families of seriously ill and injured children being treated at local hospitals.” ARMHC’s core programming has expanded to address community needs, and includes two Ronald McDonald Houses, a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and a Ronald McDonald Family Room. Many guests stay at the organization’s Houses for weeks, or even months, during their child’s treatment. In 2021, the average stay in the Houses was 21 nights, and the longest stay was 262 nights. “Our cost associated with housing and related services is $125 per night, and our requested family contribution is just $20 per night,” Scherb said. “Those who have been financially devastated by medical bills and other expenses often cannot afford this amount, yet we never turn a family away for inability to pay. Last year, 94 percent of families who stayed at our Houses were unable to afford any contribution toward their House stay and would not be able to afford care for their children without our Houses.” Yardi’s support of the Adopt-A-Room Program has adopted two guest rooms and one Transplant Suite. This program provides operating support that offsets the costs of housing families, such as utilities, linens and cleaning, as well as annual repairs like paint or carpet tiles. So far in 2022, these three rooms have hosted 15 families for 299 nights. “We are so incredibly grateful for the long-term support we have received from Yardi. You allow us to make our Houses ‘home’ for families when they need us most.  Together we are making sure children from across the state have access to the best healthcare possible. We couldn’t do it without you,” said Scherb. A glimpse of one family’s experience Scherb shared the story of one mother who received support from ARMHC. “One day, her young daughter fell on the sidewalk and started having a seizure. It was so bad, she had to be airlifted to the hospital. The young girl was put into a medically induced coma to stop the seizures. When her daughter woke up, she didn’t recognize her mother. The girl couldn’t talk. Couldn’t walk. She had to relearn everything.” “The emotionally drained mother checked into one of our Houses, and the first night she sat in the kitchen alone, since the rest of the family hadn’t been able to join her yet. She stared down helplessly at her meal. When she lifted her eyes, they met the eyes of another mother. In a look, the other mother’s eyes said, ‘I understand how you feel.’ The woman came over, introduced herself, and shared her own story. It was the first House friendship this mother made.” Years have passed since then, and the woman’s daughter is now a teenager doing well. Her family has stayed at ARMHC Houses numerous times over the years. “When the mother makes a new House friend, she adds them into her phone as ‘ARMHC [name],’ and she realized she had over 20 friends, and she emphasized these were friends—people she would continue to regularly connect...

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, let’s get to know Oxnard, Calif.-based Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, which builds homes in partnership with local, low-income families who invest 500 hours of “sweat equity” into building their future homes, which they purchase for an affordable mortgage. “We provide no-cost, critical health and safety home repairs to seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and other low-income homeowners so they can remain in their homes safely and comfortably in the long-term. We advocate at all levels of government for policies that create more affordable housing for struggling individuals and families,” said Katie Norris, Director of Development & Communications To date, the organization has completed 72 homes and has five more currently underway. This has helped 72 families become first-time homeowners. They have also completed nearly 200 home repairs. This year, Habitat for Humanity is beginning a 10-home build in Simi Valley, completing dozens more home repairs for low-income homeowners across Ventura County, and pushing state lawmakers to include significantly more funding for affordable owner-occupied housing and mortgage assistance for low-income families in the state budget. “The generous funding we received from Yardi will help us significantly as we build and repair dozens more homes in Ventura County over the next several years,” said Norris. “We are incredibly grateful to Yardi for the high level of support they’ve given us over the past couple of years. Our work is made possible by local donors like Yardi who feel passionately about our vision to create a county where everyone has a decent place to live.” One family’s story Meet Deana and her daughter, Saynt. Deana is a hardworking single mom who has been searching for a safe place to live with her five-year-old daughter for a long time. Often forced to move from place to place and renting rooms and apartments in unsafe neighborhoods, Deana worried that Saynt wouldn’t be able to thrive like other children. “She dreamed of a place they could call their own, but with the ever-increasing cost of living, homeownership seemed impossible,” said Norris. One day, “Saynt’s preschool teacher told her that they were a Habitat homeowner, and that it had changed their family’s life. Deana found Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County and added her name to our interest list.” When the opportunity to become a Habitat homeowner in Port Hueneme came up, Deana was first in line to apply. Deana has invested several hundred hours into building her future home alongside Habitat Ventura volunteers and will move into her new home this summer. “I can’t wait to move in, have financial stability and a home where my daughter can flourish… I can’t wait to live freely without the stress of having to move repeatedly. Thank you to everyone at Habitat Ventura, from the bottom of my heart,” said Deana. “A common misconception about Habitat is that we give homes away. We do not – we offer a hand up to low-income families through affordable homeownership opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. We help families access financing and Habitat Ventura families’ monthly mortgage payments are usually lower than what they were paying to live in substandard housing,” explained Norris. “Affordable homeownership is a roadmap out of poverty – families earn equity over time, they don’t have to move from place to place, and the benefits last for generations. Families break the cycle of uncertainty and fear and can finally invest in themselves and their communities.” Volunteer opportunities for Southern California employees Habitat Ventura relies on thousands of volunteers per year to advance its...

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County in Irvine, Calif. is in the spotlight. Second Harvest’s mission is to end hunger in Orange County. The organization works with a network of more than 250 partners, including places of worship, schools, senior centers, homeless shelters and others to provide  healthy food and to help build their capacity to receive and distribute nutritious food. Additionally, Second Harvest operates key programs aimed at providing much-needed food to vulnerable populations. These core hunger-relief programs include Mobile Pantry; Mobile and Permanent School Pantries, and College Pantry; Kids Cafe, Senior Grocery, and Park-It Market. “The goal of our hunger-relief efforts is to provide a safety net to the people we serve. We know these families are not relying solely on Second Harvest for their meals; rather, we provide support to help those struggling to make ends meet and offset their expenses, ensuring their limited funds can be spent on other needs, such as rent, gas, bills, medication,” said Megan Hunker, Donor Relations Manager for Second Harvest. In fiscal year 2022, which concluded in April, Second Harvest distributed almost 36 million pounds of food to an average of 331,000 people per month. Nutrition support for those in need “We believe that providing dignified, equitable and consistent access to nutritious food creates a foundation for community health and is a catalyst for societal transformation,” stated Hunker. “This coming year we are focused on purchasing nutritious food items like eggs, milk, and protein items and growing produce at our Harvest Solutions Farm.” Families like Victor and Elizabeth’s are among those served. Victor, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and his wife, Elizabeth, face challenging times. When Victor suddenly faced a serious health challenge, Elizabeth had no choice but to quit her job and take care of him. As a result, they live off a fixed income that barely makes ends meet; some months the ends never meet at all. “Second Harvest are angels in disguise,” says Elizabeth. “If it were not for the food bank, we would have an even harder time.” Yardi’s funds support Second Harvest general operations, “which gives us great flexibility to use the donation where it is needed most such as purchasing nutritious food, building out partnership capacity and more,” Hunker said. “Yardi’s support came at a time during COVID when many distribution sites shut down, un/under employment skyrocketed, and the supply chain took a hit. The funds donated by Yardi helped Second Harvest meet the increased need as we completely shifted our operations and started purchasing the majority of the food that was being distributed,” Hunker explained. Volunteer opportunities in Orange County Second Harvest currently offers two in-person volunteer opportunities. One opportunity is in the Distribution Center (DC), Monday-Friday with morning and evening shifts available. Volunteers in the DC assist in a variety of projects that help sort and process food to send out. The second opportunity is at Harvest Solutions Farm, Tuesday-Saturday with morning shifts available. Volunteers help plant, harvest, weed and maintain the fields of the Harvest Solutions Farm located just down the road from the food bank in Irvine, Calif. Second Harvest started a 45-acre farm in partnership with OC Produce and AG Kawamura at University of California’s SCREC. At Harvest Solutions Farm, they grow seasonal crops, including cabbage, broccoli, celery, bell peppers, watermelon, and squash, to provide over 2 million pounds of fresh produce to the community each year. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please visit: https://feedoc.org/get-involved/#volunteer To learn more about Second Harvest, visit https://feedoc.org and...