PHILLIPS REAL ESTATE SERVICES SUPPORTS COMMUNITY SERVICE & HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT
The Compass Center
The Compass Center (which merged with First Avenue Service Center) has received over $125,000 raised through our Annual Invitational Golf Tournament by donations and participation of vendors, clients and Phillips Real Estate's owners and employees. The 13th Annual Tournament was held at Mt. Si Golf Course and we raised over $10,000 - check out the photos. Each year, the event is led by our President, Lou Micheli, who is also a past board member of the center. 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. After that award our 2009 tournament successfully raised another $12,000 and 2010 tournament raised over $16,000!. 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 securing some of these displaced families into permanent residences within its managed apartment property portfolio. Please consider supporting this organization to help families in need of a new start by visiting www.compasscenter.org.
Green Team
April Huff, Assistant Executive Director for Phillips, was asked by management 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.
Lead - Safe Certification
April also leads the Lead-Safe program here at Phillips. This program ensure all our vendors are Lead-Safe Certified and each property manager understands the importance of the Lead-Safe practices and the rules to follow with any maintenance program.
Rock and Roll Marathon
Phillips Real Estate was awarded the second largest mid-size company participant in Seattle's Rock and Roll Marathon! Brent Pedersen of Phillips challenged his co-workers to participate in the marathon and 14 of our 49 office employees participated. That's almost 30% of the office---a grand showing of athleticism and determination. Each participant in the marathon can choose a charity of their choice to contribute donations raised from the event or it sponsors. Check out the team:
MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association)
For four 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 Matt 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) Walk
Understanding that 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. Click the links above to learn how you can volunteer too.
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.
Plymouth Housing Group
In Phillips' continued effort to help the homeless, we are pleased that Diane Castanes, Vice President and Partner in the firm, was invited to join the planning committee for Plymouth Housing Group's Oct 1, 2010 fundraising luncheon featuring guest speaker and advocate for the homeless, Lily Tomlin. This year's event at the Westin Hotel surpassed goals with over 1,100 attendees and raised over $410,000 for the cause. Plymouth is a brilliantly planned housing option for Seattle's unemployable homeless population, including the physically and mentally disabled, veterans, members of the jail diversion program and senior citizens. All of whom might otherwise be incapable of recovering from homelessness. Click here find out how you can help.
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, 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.
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.