FirstService Residential: Lights Out Philly
Our Philly High-Rise team has teamed up to join Lights Out Philly, a national program with more than 32 participating cities. We are teaming up with our residents to turn off lights during the bird migration seasons to help save birds, energy and money. Simply turn off your lights (exterior, common area and resident units) between midnight and 6:00 a.m. during spring migration, April 1 – May 31 and the fall migration, August 15-November 15.
California Closets: Transforms a multi-use space at transitional home in Phoenix
For individuals or families facing a domestic crisis, a next step can be terrifying. So often, people feel paralyzed, not knowing where to turn for help. That’s where Mesa, AZ-based A New Leaf’s Autumn House program comes in.
 The dated multi-purpose room lacked warmth and personality before the California Closets team arrived |
 The California Closets team transformed a dreary space into a warm, inviting area for residents to use |
L-R: Aaron Pieratt, PHX Sales Manager; Amy Wenger, Local ASID Chapter President; and Janet Hutchinson, PHX GM. Note: This project was completed prior to COVID
Before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the country – and world – California Closets of Phoenix assisted in transforming a multi-use space at Autumn House so that it could better serve its transitional residents.
Phoenix GM Janet Hutchinson and team were converted a social room into a warm, welcoming, and peaceful place for residents to go to for social and life skills activities. This area is used for residents to receive coaching on everything from high school GEDs and college diplomas to employment, healthy lifestyles, and adult self-sufficiency.
In addition, California Closets built out a beautiful new media center where a large screen TV, books, and reference materials could be stored. Hanging barn door sliders were added to conceal the television when not in use.
Autumn House has been providing safe shelter to the community for almost 40 years and was the East Valley’s first domestic violence shelter. It operates 24/7 in a confidential location, accepting survivors all times of the year.
“We are so proud to have been a part of this amazing project,” said Janet, “and to support men and women in our community who have been affected by domestic violence.”
Janet and her team display what it truly means to design better lives, and bring California Closet’s CREDO to life.
FirstService Residential: Alberta Market 2020 Adopt-A-Family
Date: November 17, 2020-December 3, 2020
Due to COVID-19, the way we donate to our Adopt-A-Family will look slightly different this year as Closer to Home cannot take in-kind donations. Instead, we will have a Fundraiser Donation Page (see link above).
For 2020 we are adopting a family of 4! Our goal is to raise $625.00+ by December 3, 2020. If we raise over this amount, the excess will go towards their Season of Hope Fund (this supports families throughout the year).
We have divided the Alberta market into the following teams:
Team 1 – Lauren and Rob with the Community Managers and Sales & Leasing Team 2 – Dana with the CSS Team, Crystal, Paige, and Kathleen Team 3 – Karen with Accounting (both Property and ARA) Team 4 – Andrew and Avery with Multi-Residential Associates Team 5 – Glenne and Andrea/Shylin with Concierge, Building Operators, and all other On-Site Staff
The goal for each group to raise $125.00+. Each Team Leader (along with the other Team Leads in their departments) are encouraged to make it fun! Let’s see what team can reach (and hopefully surpass) their goal! It has been a crazy year, and giving back allows us to help make a family’s Christmas! #FirstServeOthers
FirstService Residential: Running Across America Virtual 5K
Across the country on June 6, we’ll take to the streets, trails, and paths via the Virtual Race app. It’s like a traditional 5k—friendly competition, t‑shirts, finish line selfies—only you pick the route.
To join the race, you must first register on this site. After registration, you’ll get a text with a unique code and instructions to download the Virtual Race app we use for the event. From there you can create a team and challenge friends to join you virtually.
When it’s time for the event, you lace up your shoes and activate the race tracker in the app. It’ll let you know as you make progress toward 5 kilometers on whatever route you choose in your neighborhood. After you’re done running, we’ll show you how you performed versus others on the leaderboard. Challenge a friend and see who’s faster. Or just stretch your legs and get some fresh air. Plus, just like a regular race, you can get a t-shirt and medal to commemorate the time.
We’re thanking Essential Workers with free registration and also supporting Feeding America.
FirstService Residential: Red Nose Day May 21st
California Closets: Collecting Donations for Pace Center for Girls in Southwest Florida
Through the end of August, California Closets of Southwest Florida will be hosting its 4th annual clothing drive in support of Pace Center for Girls.
Donated clothing, shoes, handbags, and jewelry will be delivered to Pace’s upcoming annual Love That Dress event during which community members can purchase tickets to “shop” the collected items. All proceeds support Pace’s ongoing mission to aid women ages 11-18 who are struggling with poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, foster home placement, neglect, grief, incarceration of a family member and physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
In exchange for a clothing donation, California Closets’ local clients can receive up to 15% off their next project.
California Closets of Southwest Florida is the largest single contributor to the clothing drive and owner Suzi Woods sits on the board.
DO YOU HAVE CLOTHING TO DONATE? If so, please send donations to Pace Center for Girls, 3800 Evans Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33901.
You can also join the donation drive virtually: Use the hashtag #makespaceforpace and post a video of yourself “making space for Pace” as you clean out your own closets. Challenge your friends to do the same.
FirstService Residential: Brightens the Holidays for Foster Kids in Miami
FirstService Residential: Bringing Holiday Cheer to Dallas Seniors with “Cards for a Cause”
Here at the Dallas office, we are celebrating the “5 Days of Christmas!”
Each department hosts a “day” in December leading up to Christmas.
For the first day, the marketing department hosted an event called “Cards for a Cause.” Associates wrote almost 100-holiday cards to local seniors served by Monarch Pavilion Rehabilitation Suites in Dallas.
Some of the associates will later take the cards to the senior residents in person to spread holiday cheer! To make the event more festive, associates enjoyed a peppermint, candy cane, and marshmallow-filled hot cocoa bar while writing the cards.
FirstService Residential: Dallas Toys for Tots Toy Drive
Toys galore! The Texas Region is holding a Marine Toys for Tots Toy Drive. The primary goal of the Toy Drive is to make the holiday season a little brighter for local families in need.
To encourage even more associates to get involved, the Drive is a contest among all the Texas markets. The market that collects the most toys by December 13th wins an exciting prize!
A great way to work together as a region and “Be Genuinely Helpful” to the less fortunate this holiday season.
To get more information about this event please contact Mira.baker@fsresidential.com
FirstService Residential: Hosting Teddy Bear Drive to Support The Center for Child Protection
FirstService Residential is hosting a Teddy Bear Drive to benefit Travis County child abuse victims.
The Center for Child Protection is a nationally accredited children’s advocacy center and the only non-profit in Travis County involved in the investigation of crimes against children. For more than 30 years, the Center has been the first stop for children in Travis County who are suspected victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse and for children who have witnessed a violent crime. Every month, more than 300 child victims and their siblings receive a teddy bear or stuffed animal after visiting the Center. The teddy bear provides comfort and a sense of safety during a difficult time, and it represents a new beginning for these children.
With a continually increasing number of children visiting the Center each day, we are asking for support in keeping their teddy bear and stuffed animals supply fully stocked. We are asking for new stuffed animals only please and have provided a wish list for easy ordering to send bears directly to our collection office (link below).
Bears can also be dropped of during normal business hours to the Austin office: 7 Lakeway Centre Court, Ste. 102, Lakeway, Texas 78734.