{"id":9589,"date":"2014-02-06T05:00:36","date_gmt":"2014-02-06T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/?p=9589"},"modified":"2021-02-03T15:52:22","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T23:52:22","slug":"village-green","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/village-green\/","title":{"rendered":"Village Green"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Splash
Splash Day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When it comes to making a splash with corporate philanthropic efforts, Midwestern luxury multifamily owner, developer and manager \u00a0Village Green<\/a> is jumping into the pool feet first.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not an analogy, either. Their property managers and associates \u00a0at 160 properties in 13 states literally jump into swimming pools to help raise funds for worthwhile local charities. Splash Day, marking the first day of \u201copen pool\u201d season, has been a company institution since 1991 and has raised over $500,000 for local Ronald McDonald House Charities in each of Village Green\u2019s seven regions<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s just one effort of many they make to support non-profits and \u00a0organizations of many kinds. While the history of Village Green dates all the way back to 1919, current CEO Jonathan Holtzman is credited with providing strong leadership.<\/p>\n

\u201cJon Holtzman is really into giving back to the communities that we serve,\u201d said Jacqueline Trost, Director of Public Relations for Village Green. \u201cHe has spearheaded the initiatives with national organizations we donate to, and there is regional and hyper-local coordination as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Village Green has more than 1,250 associates who operate out of seven main regions: Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Dallas, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Last year, it delivered some exciting news \u2013 each employee would annually be allotted 8 hours of paid time to contribute to a charity or volunteer effort of their choosing.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s just one day out of the year per person, but it can make a huge impact \u2013 if every associate takes advantage of the program, Village Green is giving back 10,000 man hours \u2013 or 250 full work weeks of donated time. Employees served the hungry at the local rescue missions and soup kitchens, adopted families in need during the holidays, packed food \u00a0at various food banks, while others \u00a0volunteered at their church, child\u2019s school and other organizations associates have a personal with<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to take things to the next level,\u201d said Andrea Garland, Village Green\u2019s senior director of Human Resources. In addition to the employee volunteer day, the company created a Village Green Cares committee, which tracks and organizes philanthropic outreach on a regional level. The committee makes it easier for groups to come together to work on a project, even if employees are working at different communities.<\/p>\n

On site at Village Green\u2019s properties, an active event planning program, including a resident Lifestyle Director, \u00a0makes it easy to work charitable happenings into the rotation. Most of their communities organize a minimum of one event a month, and residents enjoy interacting with one another while benefiting worthy causes.<\/p>\n

Splash Day is the ultimate example of that. Anticipation around the first day of pool season is big in the Midwest, and pairing the occasion with a community BBQ, silent auction, and good old-fashioned dunking is always a hit.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was initially a challenge from a property manager \u2013 that\u2019s how Splash Day was born. If the community raised a certain amount of money in a donation drive, the property manager volunteered to jump into the pool with all his clothes on,\u201d said Trost. \u201cIt\u2019s a big pool party, and all the proceeds are donated to that region\u2019s local Ronald McDonald House Charities.\u201d Maintenance staff and leasing consultants get wet for the cause as well. Communities that don\u2019t have pools donate too, via splashless celebrations.<\/p>\n

At the corporate and regional level, the Village Green team finds time for fun philanthropy as well. On \u201cTake Your Dog to Work Day,\u201d employees can donate via an online auction and bring their dogs to the office, with the intent being to promote a pet-positive workplace and support dog adoption organizations. Pet Sitters International and the Animal Placement Bureau are the two organizations supported by the event.<\/p>\n

Dogs often come to the office, or those communities that allow pets, dressed up and participate in costume contests or a pet parades, in addition to enjoying some naptime while their owners are hard at work.<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides Splash Day, Take Your Dog to Work Day is one of the big events associates and residents look forward to every year,\u201d Trost said.<\/p>\n

In additional to Ronald McDonald House Charities and Pet Sitters International, non-profits supported by Village Green include the American Red Cross, Make a Wish, Humane Society, Coats 4 Kids, Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, local regional soup kitchens, races\/walks and food banks. Associates and residents have also come together to support their own, raising funds for co-workers who may have had a medical emergency or tragedy in their family.<\/p>\n

Yardi <\/a>commends Village Green, a Yardi client on their efforts on behalf of their communities around the U.S.<\/p>\n

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