Ryan Burrows, JLL and Conor Rector, CoStar Group celebrate the accomplishment.
More than 150 NAIOP Maryland volunteers descended upon the Baltimore Community ToolBank to invest an afternoon that resulted in the construction of 20 picnic tables, 15 planters, 12 park benches and 10 mobile libraries, as well as significantly upgrading the exterior landscaping at the non-profit facility located on 1224 Wicomico Street in Baltimore City. Financial donations were also presented to the House of Ruth, The 6th Branch as well as the ToolBank by the local commercial real estate association that is comprised of approximately 450 professionals.
Scott Goldman, The 6th Branch; Connie Rhodes, Merritt Properties; Sarah Artes, Corner Team; Todd Summerfield, Liberty Property Trust; Sandi Timmins, House of Ruth; Nicole Wilhelm Smith, ECS Mid-Atlantic and Noah Smock, Baltimore Community ToolBank.
“We achieved each of our stated goals of keeping 150 people busy for an extended period of time, providing them meaningful work, and making a significant and long-lasting impact on our community,” explained Todd Summerfield of Liberty Property Trust, who co-chaired a fourteen person committee with Connie Rhodes of Merritt Properties and Nicole Wilhelm Smith of ECS Mid-Atlantic. “This initiative was actually a four-day process that involved the cutting and sanding of approximately 1.5 miles worth of lumber prior to the day of assemblage, which indicates the amount of logistics needed to properly organize this event.”
Todd Summerfield, Co-Chair of NAIOP Maryland Community Service Committee (left) presents check to Sandi Timmins, Executive Director of the House of Ruth.
The Baltimore Community ToolBank is utilized by local area non-profit groups, schools, neighborhood associations and faith-based organizations to rent items such as drills, generators, hammers, ladders, saws, wheelbarrows and other equipment to complete a construction project throughout the region.The non-profit group annually fulfills approximately 900 orders for nearly 250 partners, and lends tools worth nearly $2 million in value.
Owen Rouse, Manekin; Brennan Tolstoi, M&T Bank; Andy Bolton, M&T Bank
NAIOP Maryland organizes a full-scale Community Service project every other year while the Chapter’s Developing Leaders group (comprised of members 35 years of age and younger) executes smaller initiatives on an annual basis. Past Community Service efforts have benefitted the Living Classroom Foundation, the Patterson Park Youth Sports and Education Center and the Youth Empowered Society.
“Because of our members’ day-to-day work in the real estate sector, we felt a special synergy with a non-profit group that helps Baltimore-area groups build projects to improve an environment or program,” Summerfield added. “The construction of the mobile libraries is an added twist that will support and advance educational initiatives throughout the Baltimore City region.”
General contracting firm Partner Contracting provided complimentary design services for the design of the benches, picnic tables and planters, as well as purchasing materials and organizing the construction activities. Major corporate sponsors were Brightview, CoStar Group, Merritt Properties, Partner Contracting, Prologis and St. John Properties.
