FirstService Residential

L.E.A.D.S. Gives Back to Those Who Serve
One of the most meaningful moments of this year's Northeast and MidAtlantic L.E.A.D.S. events was the opportunity to come together in support of deployed military members through our partnership with Soldiers' Angels. Founded in 2003 by Patti Patton, the great grandniece of General George S. Patton, Soldiers' Angels was created after she learned that many service members overseas were not receiving care packages from home. Today, the organization continues that mission by delivering personalized care packages and support to troops around the world.

Thanks to the generosity and participation of our attendees, we packed an incredible 757 care kits across both events. Each kit represents a small reminder to a deployed soldier that they are remembered, appreciated, and supported.

The Branded Events Team, Michael, and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who took the time to participate. We are incredibly proud to bring Social Purpose to L.E.A.D.S. each year, and even more proud to see so many associates willingly give their energy and time to make a difference for others. Together, we helped turn gratitude into action and support those who serve far from home. ❤️🇺🇸

Valencia Shores, Valencia Lakes, Four Seasons and Miralago Master Associations held “Power of the Purse”. Please see attached Dress for success for information pertaining to this event and giving back. We collected over 300 purses to donate to Dress for Success. https://www.dressforsuccesspb.org

The Dade Portfolio Team in the Condo/HOA Division at FirstService Residential came together with a shared goal: to turn compassion into meaningful action for families affected by devastating earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela.

We chose to support Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), a humanitarian organization providing critical disaster relief to communities in need, including families impacted by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia.

Our efforts began by collecting gently used items that could be given a second life while helping families in need. Our team also raised more than $220, which we used to purchase much-needed supplies to support GEM's ongoing relief efforts. We wanted our contribution to go beyond donations.

On Wednesday, September 30, our team will volunteer our time with GEM, working side by side to support their humanitarian relief efforts and help prepare essential aid for families recovering from disaster.

For us, this Summer of Service is about more than the items collected or the dollars raised. It's about recognizing that service can take many forms coming together as a team and giving what we can, and, most importantly, giving our time.

We are proud to represent FirstService Residential while putting #FirstServeOthers into action. By coming together as a team, we hope our contribution can become part of something much larger—providing hope and support to people when they need it most.

The New York team recently held a donation drive in support of Friends of Karen’s 2026 Back-to-School initiative, helping provide school supplies to children whose families are facing the financial challenges associated with caring for a terminally ill child. For these families, the cost of back-to-school shopping can add significant financial pressure during an already difficult time. The donated supplies provide children with the tools they need to start the school year prepared while helping ease some of that financial burden for their families.

The response from associates was tremendous, with more than 200 brand-new school supplies collected through donations made directly to the HR office. Associates also supported the initiative through monetary contributions and by shipping school supplies directly to Friends of Karen. Through these combined efforts, the New York team helped ensure that children supported by Friends of Karen could begin the new school year with the supplies they need, while giving their families one less expense to worry about.

On August 8, a group of FirstService Residential volunteers joined the DC Metro Social Committee in participating in the official Spread The Meals Day by delivering and distributing the lunches prepared for Carpenter's Shelter. Volunteers spent the afternoon at David's Place, Carpenter's Shelter's walk-in resource center for adults experiencing homelessness in Alexandria, helping ensure the meals reached those who needed them most.

This experience provided a powerful opportunity to see the direct impact of our efforts. Beyond providing nourishment, the meals represented care, compassion, and support for members of our community facing difficult circumstances. Being able to personally distribute the lunches and connect with the mission of Carpenter's Shelter made the experience especially meaningful and reinforced the importance of giving back through both donations and hands-on service.

Throughout the summer, FirstService Residential associates participated in a bookmark-making project benefiting Comfort Cases organized by the DC Metro Social Committee. Associates across our offices and communities created handmade bookmarks that will be placed inside new books given to children entering foster care. Some communities even hosted their own bookmark-making activities, allowing residents and associates to join in supporting this meaningful cause.

Although small in size, each bookmark carries a personal message of kindness and encouragement for a child facing an uncertain transition. This project provided a simple yet impactful way for participants to share compassion and creativity while helping children feel seen, supported, and cared for. It was inspiring to see so many associates and community members come together to create thoughtful keepsakes that will accompany a special gift and remind children that they are not alone.

The DC Metro Social Committee partnered with Comfort Cases to provide FirstService Residential associates with an opportunity to support children and youth entering the foster care system. Comfort Cases is dedicated to providing essential items and comfort belongings to children during a time of significant change, helping bring dignity, hope, and a sense of care during a difficult transition.

During the volunteer event, associates worked at the Comfort Cases facility to help prepare items that would be distributed to children entering foster care. This hands-on experience allowed volunteers to directly support an organization making a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Knowing that our efforts would help provide comfort, encouragement, and essential necessities to children during a challenging time made the experience especially rewarding and reinforced the importance of serving our communities with compassion.

Throughout the summer, the FirstService Residential DC Metro Social Committee organized a pull tab collection drive benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Collection boxes were placed across the DMV, including our Fairfax office, encouraging FirstService Residential associates to save and donate aluminum pull tabs from cans. Once collected, the tabs are recycled, generating funds that help support RMHC's programs and services.

What made this initiative especially meaningful was knowing that a simple item many people would normally overlook can contribute to a larger mission. The proceeds from the recycled tabs help Ronald McDonald House Charities provide a "home away from home" for families whose children are receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals. It was inspiring to see employees from across the region come together in support of this effort and demonstrate how small contributions, when combined, can make a meaningful difference for families facing challenging circumstances.

On August 7, the DC Metro Social Committee brought FirstService Residential associates together at the Fairfax office to assemble bagged lunches for Carpenter's Shelter as part of the Spread The Meals campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our associates, we not only met our goal of 88 meals but exceeded it by packing and delivering 114 meals, with additional donated supplies left over.

This achievement was made possible through the collective efforts of everyone who donated items, volunteered their time, and helped promote the campaign. Seeing so many people come together to support our neighbors in need was incredibly rewarding. Surpassing our goal demonstrated the impact we can make when we work together and highlighted the generosity that exists throughout our organization.

Following the DC Metro Social Committee School Supply Drive, associates from FirstService Residential visited Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) to help prepare donated supplies for local students and families. After delivering the school supplies collected through donations from our associates and communities, volunteers helped sort materials, fill nearly 500 backpacks, and assemble grade-specific supply kits.

This hands-on volunteer opportunity allowed us to see the direct impact of our donations. From selecting supplies to packing backpacks, associates took pride in helping ensure students have the tools they need to start the school year prepared and confident. Knowing these backpacks will support local children on their educational journey made the experience especially meaningful.

From July 1 through July 21, the FirstService Residential DC Metro Social Committee hosted a School Supply Drive benefiting Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS). With support from our Fairfax and Fredericksburg Regional Offices, participating communities, associates, and generous residents throughout the region, we collected school supplies and raised $620 through our donation page to help local students prepare for the upcoming school year.

This effort demonstrated the power of our communities coming together to support local families. Thanks to the generosity of our employees, residents, boards, and community partners, students in Northern Virginia will have access to essential school supplies and resources that help set them up for success in the classroom. It was inspiring to see so many people rally around a shared goal and invest in the future of young learners. Knowing that our contributions will help students begin the school year with confidence and the tools they need to thrive made this initiative especially meaningful.

The DC Metro Social Committee organized FirstService Residential's participation in the nationwide Spread The Meals campaign, bringing associates together to support individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in our community. Leading up to the event, associates donated lunch items with the goal of assembling 88 bagged lunches for Carpenter's Shelter in Alexandria, Virginia.

The response was inspiring, with employees stepping up to donate supplies, spread awareness, and support the effort. This initiative showed how a simple act of generosity can bring people together around a common purpose. Knowing that these donations would help provide meals to individuals in need made every contribution meaningful and reinforced our commitment to serving our community.