Archive for June, 2007
A Community Service Day Summerfest for Operation Hero
Posted by Erica Vautier | Leave A Comment »
Honoring a 23 year-old company tradition, Windermere Exclusive Properties will take June 15 off from work to throw the children of Operation Hero a summer party extravaganza.
“For the third year in a row, we will be providing a quality afternoon of fun and caring for up to 150 children of our Marine families from Camp Pendleton,” said Mark Loscher, a founder of Windermere Exclusive Properties. “Our Community Service Day participation each year, here in San Diego and in all of our 400 offices, is our way of saying thank you for allowing us to support the community with our Real Estate services.”
Windermere has been raising money all year to fund the summer party for Operation Hero, a nationwide program providing after school tutoring and mentoring for 5-11 year old children whose parents are away with the military. They have arranged for a hula hoop contest, football toss, crafts, inflatable games, a wildlife specialist, music, pizza, designated buddies and hundreds of giveaways. The entire day is designed around the children.
“It’s been a banner year with our funds,” said Linda Schechner, the Windermere agent who has coordinated Summerfest for the past three years. “We have collected more than $2000! The Camp Pendleton YMCA gives us the place, so all of our money goes to the children in attendance.”
Windermere collected more than 65 door prizes that will be raffled off for the kids. Prizes include: tickets to Sea world, dinners at the Coyote Grill, movie theater tickets, Borders gift certificates, Starbucks gift cards, and $200 in gift certificates donated by a Walmart in San Marcos.
“These elementary school kids get lost in the shuffle,” said Schechner. “There is nothing available for that age group. It is not easy to have your parents go away.”
Each child is assigned a Windermere-buddy to go through the games and activities with. Together, they will play sports, listen to music, paint sun visors, and enjoy a day of carefree fun. The afternoon ends with a Dominos pizza party lunch and goodies from Barry’s bakery.
“Everyone is concerned about our troops being gone for so long. Everyone has an opinion about it,” said Dara Chantarit, a Windermere agent who been participating in Summerfest for two years. “Certainly what is important is that the kids know that people care for them and are looking out for them while their parents are away.”
Windermere agents, managers and owners have described the event as “heartwarming” and are thrilled with its success. Most are looking forward to Community Service Day as much as the children are.
“We have a lot of charitable people in our company, and on more than just this day,” said Schechner, who is excited to see the reaction of agents who are experiencing their first Summerfest. “I am proud to be working for a company that does stuff like this. They stand behind us.”
Chantarit has similar sentiments; she says that giving back to the community is always on the forefront of the company’s mind and that it is one of the reasons she moved to Windermere.“The Windermere Way is, in fact not, much different than good common decency and treating each other in ways we would want to be treated,” said Loscher. “Our focus will never change. We will always look for methods to give back to our community. It may look different from year to year, but the end result will hopefully always be the same.”
For more information, contact Linda Schechner at (760) 415- 7083.
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Related Posts: Community Service, Windermere, Windermere Agents
Windermere Invites the Bloodmobile to Cruisin’ Grand
Posted by Erica Vautier | Leave A Comment »
Windermere Exclusive Properties plans to add a new element of community service to Escondido’s popular Cruisin’ Grand classic car show, a blood drive. On June 8 the Bloodmobile will be accepting donations from the Escondido Windermere parking lot from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m
As the historic downtown streets fill with cruisers and spectators, Windermere volunteers will be helping the San Diego Blood Bank by giving blood and assisting others who want to donate.
“It promotes humanity and the spirit of giving back,” said Windermere agent Linda Grubbs, who initiated the drive. “I’ve always given blood and I wanted to build that bond with Escondido.”
Grubbs has a rare blood type, so she donates regularly to help the Blood Bank replenish their supply. “They can barely keep a week’s worth of it,” said Grubbs. “I give at least every three months.”
Windermere is a regular participant in Cruisin’ Grand; they set up a booth outside their Escondido office each Friday to raise donations and awareness for local charities.
“We believe in giving time and resources to supporting events that enrich the communities where we live and work,” said Jim Browne, a founder of Windermere Exclusive Properties. “That’s why we partner with some of the finest organizations and support some of our regions’ premier events.”
The San Diego Blood Bank has stayed in the forefront of transfusion medicine, added donor centers and bloodmobiles to cover all of the region’s neighborhoods, diversified the blood bank’s donor base and formed lasting partnerships with organizations from all over the San Diego community.
As more than 400 pre-1974 American-made hotrods, custom, vintage, classic cars and trucks begin their Friday night cruise down Grand, Windermere will be rallying community support for an outstanding local organization.
Please contact Linda Grubbs at (760) 931-6111 for more information.
Popularity: 29% [?]
Related Posts: Community Service, Entertainment, Escondido, Windermere, Windermere Agents
