PHILLIPS REAL ESTATE SERVICES SUPPORTS COMMUNITY SERVICE
The Compass Center
The Compass Center (which merged with First Avenue Service Center) has received over $110,000 raised through our Annual Invitational Golf Tournament by donations and participation of vendors, clients and Phillips Real Estate's owners and employees. This event is led by our President, Lou Micheli, who is also a past boardmember of the center. In 2008, the Compass Center presented Phillips with an award of recognition for raising over $100,000 for the center since the commencement of this annual tournament. Our 2009 tournament succeessfully raised another $12,000. The Compass Center provides free temporary housing to homeless families and assists in establishing them in permanent housing.
Phillips was additionally able to work with a large apartment investor in placing some of these displaced families into permanent residences within its managed apartment property portfolio. Please consider supporting this organization to help these transitional families by visiting
www.compasscenter.org.
Plymouth Housing Group
In Phillips' continued effort to help the homeless, we are pleased to have Diane Castanes, Vice President and Partner in the firm, invited to join the planning committee for Plymouth Housing Group's next fundraising luncheon featuring guest speaker and advocate for the homeless, Lily Tomlin. The planning begins April 2010 for the event to be held October 1, 2010. To inquire about tickets to the event visit
www.plymouthhousing.org . Tickets are at no charge with a suggested minimum donation of $150 per person at the event. Last year's event with speaker and poet Maya Angelou drew over 1100 attendees and was a great success. Plymouth's newest housing center at 1st and Cedar in downtown Seattle is underway thanks to the many contributions to this supportive non-profit organization.
MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
For three consecutive years, a different member of Phillips’ management staff has volunteered to be “taken prisoner” for the fund raising event, “The Downtown Seattle MDA Lock-Up” (supporting the Muscular Dystrophy Association), to raise funds for those suffering with disabilities caused by Muscular Dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s and other muscular disorders. This year Matthew Geise was brought in by Seattle Fire Fighters and locked up in a banquet facility at the Space Needle until he earned his goal in donations by calling co-workers, friends, clients and family to bail him out with donations to MDA; a fun event with a successful result of a considerable donation to this thoughtful cause. We welcome you to volunteer or donate by visiting
www.mdausa.org .
MS (Multiple Sclerosis)
Knowing one of our own admired staff members was fighting MS, Phillips' Vickie Tolson decided to fight back by gathering a team of 15 associates to walk for the cure, raising sponsorship funds online far beyond our anticipated goal. We were proud to have the family spirit of our team shine through with such compassion and such an impressive outcome.
Cascade Land Conservancy and Earthcorps
Phillips’ Apartment Division gathered a team of eight employees to participate in Green Seattle Day. Throughout this cold and rainy day, our team aided representatives from EarthCorps, Cascade Land Conservancy and the City of Seattle’s Parks Department by planting new native vegetation and removing invasive plants to help improve the environment of Capitol Hill's Interlaken Park. We hope to continue to assist with future projects offered by these two local organizations to improve the vitality of green spaces throughout the Seattle area. Visit
www.earthcorps.org or
www.cascadeland.org to learn how you can volunteer too.
Toys for Tots
During the holiday season Phillips’ charitable focus turns to children. The office ‘adopts’ a group of children in need for whom our staff and the company purchase gifts. Traditionally this has been done through KIRO Foster Holiday Magic, however, with a change in KIRO’s program in 2007, Phillips elected to contribute through Toys for Tots’ holiday gift giving program beginning in 2008 and continuing. With the leadership of Becky Tipton and Beth Cogan, of our accounting department, nearly 100 toys and numerous clothing items were purchased for these less fortunate Seattle area children. Consider this opportunity. It is easy as a visit to your local fire station, if used as a collection center for Toys for Tots.
Painting for a Better Tomorrow (MBA)
Through the Master Builders Association, Phillips' Julia Schwab volunteered to paint 3 two bedroom apartment units of affordable housing. With the support of eight of our staff members, donations of labor and materials by Rhodda Paint and Sergey's Deluxe Carpet and Paint, the three families housed in this Fremont triplex returned to an improved home, with clean, brightened walls and heightened spirits.
Green Team
April Huff, Assistant Executive Director for Phillips, was asked by management last year to form a “Green Team” within Phillips for the purpose of promoting environmentally friendly actions, such as improved recycling and increased energy savings at our over 400 managed properties. Her team has also started the promotion of use of environmentally safe or sound cleaning and decorating products to use at our over 400 managed locations
Phillips Real Estate Services encourages giving back to the community through our business actions and personal efforts and will continue to do so in the coming years.