NAIOP recently formed a 501(c)3 foundation, which is dedicated to funding our Real Estate Challenge, Community Enhancement, and our Special Projects. The Special Projects team is a sub group of the Community Enhancement committee and is dedicated to finding a worthwhile cause that may not necessarily meet the larger scope of work that is required for our major Community Enhancement event every September.

Special projects group took on two projects in 2005, both very challenging and demanding for both the volunteers and organizers.

Last Spring our Community Enhancement Special Project team (CESP) provided a much needed renovation to the Seattle Children's Home Reward Room. Children that that maintained good behavior were allowed to gather in the rewards room, which housed exercise equipment, a ping table, games, and a casual place where kids could be kids. The reward room was in dire need of updating to make it live up to its name. With its concrete floors, single tube fluorescent lighting, and unpainted walls it was in need of some work. The CESP spent additional hours fundraising and finding sponsors the various new materials needed to transform this room. Over the next 3 weeks the Reward Room was transformed with newly painted walls, new lighting, new carpet, and new acoustical ceilings.

Later that summer, the CESP was again challenged to provide a new infant to toddler friendly play structure @ the Childhaven facility in Auburn. The daycare facility for under privileged children was a converted strip mall and lacked the child hood environment needed to foster these disadvantaged children. CESP provided $5,000.00 towards the new play structure with Childhaven matching our donation. The next 2 weekends were spent pouring new concrete play areas, installing 3 new benches, and installing the new play structure. The teachers, parents and children loved the new play structure and they vowed that this would be the first part of the new playground area and would continue to add play ground equipment as the opportunities arise.

Sponsorships are an important part of NAIOP's Community Enhancement projects. If you or your company is interested in helping out with this year's project please contact our office at 206.382.9121.

For more information on sponsorship levels click here.