The impact of using those hours doesn’t just benefit our communities. Partnering with causes that you care about can be just as meaningful for the one dedicating their time. For Lee Pratschner, Regional Manager (Fargo, ND), partnering with the United Way of Cass Clay was the perfect choice.

“For United Way, I act as a School Supply Drive Committee member. I choose to volunteer and give a monetary donation with each paycheck because they don't just give money out; they invest in the community and take a lot of time and care with the recipients to ensure they are making an impact for good,” Lee says.

Each year, United Way hosts a School Supply Drive campaign to help local students get much-needed school supplies before the school year kicks off. For 1 in 4 local families, back-to-school shopping comes with facing difficult financial decisions. To ease pressure on families, the School Supply Drive aims to collect financial donations, school supplies, and volunteer time to set students up for success. This year, over 7,000 backpacks were filled with supplies – a new record.

Goldmark’s 16 hours of volunteer time give team members the opportunity to take that first step. For Lee, those 16 hours grew into a deeper commitment and passion for The United Way’s School Supply Drive, leading him to go beyond showing up and distributing backpacks. As a committee member, he also gets to dive into the logistical side of the campaign.

“I attend planning and debriefing meetings, manage backpack packing shifts, as well as manage and participate in the distribution of backpacks to the kids who need them,” explains Lee.

 As important as the logistical side is, Lee’s favorite part of the event is personally handing out backpacks to kids in need.

“Distribution is the best! Getting to see the excitement of kids who get their own backpack, sometimes for the first time ever, is pretty special,” admits Lee.

“Saying to them, 'Have a great school year!' and having them smile ear-to-ear fills my bucket for the whole year.”

Finding something that ignites your passion doesn’t always come instantly. When asked what team members should do if they don’t know how to use their volunteer hours, Lee shared some advice on where to start.

“Ask what other team members do in your office and join them! The best way to get started is to just jump in and get inspired! If you have a cause you are passionate about, share that passion with others and invite them along!”

By taking that first step, you never know what you might find. Like Lee, you may discover what fills your bucket, too.

Interested in learning more about our team or exploring career opportunities in property management? View our current openings!

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Goldmark is excited to kickoff the Grand Forks region's Thrive Drive campaign! The Thrive Drive is an opportunity for us and our residents to give back to our Grand Forks community partner, Circle of Friends Animal Shelter, by donating these critical need items, which can be dropped off at local Goldmark on-site rental offices:

We are proud to be partnered with these great organizations in the Grand Forks community:

The Thrive Drive, formerly known as the Goldmark Giving Tree, focuses on helping collect and provide critical need items for various non-profit organizations throughout the year in the communities we serve.

Are you interested in a career that gives you the opportunity to give back to your community? View our Career Opportunities!

The post Thrive Drive Starts June 15 in the Grand Forks Region appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

The Jeremiah Program believes the pervasive and systemic impacts of poverty can be disrupted. They are committed to breaking down barriers to education, housing, and childcare for single mothers and their children. With a goal to disrupt and end the cycle of generational poverty, the Jeremiah Program in Fargo, ND has a 20-unit housing campus for qualified families experiencing poverty. The campus includes an on-site child development center with capacity to serve 52 children.

In 2021, 115 moms and their children were served by the Jeremiah Program in Fargo with projected growth for 2022. Mothers in the program must be enrolled in school and maintain a minimum GPA requirement. As a result, the average income of a single mother at the Jeremiah Program is just $9,962.

At the beginning of May, the Goldmark Human Resources Team assembled 52 May Day baskets for children aged 2 – 8 years old. The baskets contained a variety of items including coloring books, crayons, pop fidget toys, temporary tattoos, bubbles, and healthy snacks. Each child received a basket in an effort to make each one feel special.

 

The baskets were delivered while school was in session at the campus. Teachers allowed the kids to take a break and pick out a basket of their choosing. One young boy ran over to pick out a blue basket and paw patrol coloring book, and asked with excitement, "Is this just for me? Do I get to keep it all for myself?" Our team was thrilled to see the reaction from the children and staff at the Jeremiah Program.

Goldmark prioritizes giving back to our community and organizations like the Jeremiah Program. Learn more about the Jeremiah Program and the work they are doing in the communities we serve.

Fargo-Moorhead | Minneapolis | St. Paul
 

The post May Day Baskets Delivered to the Jeremiah Program appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

Goldmark is excited to start the Omaha region's Thrive Drive campaign! The Thrive Drive is an opportunity for us and our residents to give back to our community partners by donating these critical need items, which can be dropped off at local Goldmark on-site rental offices:

We are proud to be partnered with these great organizations in the Omaha community:

 

The Thrive Drive, formerly known as the Goldmark Giving Tree, focuses on helping collect and provide critical need items for various non-profit organizations throughout the year in the communities we serve.

Are you interested in a career that gives you the opportunity to give back to your community? View our Career Opportunities!

The post Thrive Drive Starts May 1 in the Omaha Region appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

Goldmark is excited to start the Bismarck region's Thrive Drive campaign! The Thrive Drive is an opportunity for us and our residents to give back to our Bismarck community partners by donating these critical need items, which can be dropped off at local Goldmark on-site rental offices:

We are proud to be partnered with these great organizations in the Bismarck community:

 

The Thrive Drive, formerly known as the Goldmark Giving Tree, focuses on helping collect and provide critical need items for various non-profit organizations throughout the year in the communities we serve.

Are you interested in a career that gives you the opportunity to give back to your community? View our Career Opportunities!

The post Thrive Drive Starts May 1 in the Bismarck Region appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

Goldmark is excited to kick off the Thrive Drive campaign, starting with the Fargo-Moorhead region! The Thrive Drive is an opportunity for us and our residents to give back to our community partners by donating these critical need items, which can be dropped off at local Goldmark on-site rental offices:

We are proud to be partnered with these great organizations in the Fargo-Moorhead community:

 

The Thrive Drive, formerly known as the Goldmark Giving Tree, focuses on helping collect and provide critical need items for various non-profit organizations throughout the year in the communities we serve.

Are you interested in a career that gives you the opportunity to give back to your community? View our Career Opportunities!

The post Giving Back: Thrive drive Kicks off in Fargo-Moorhead Region appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

In December, all Goldmark Teams were challenged to spread holiday cheer and spruce up our office, shops, and work areas with decorated holiday trees. To add to the fun, pictures of the trees were voted on by our Facebook community and our Thrive Gives program awarded the top three teams with a financial donation to their Charity of Choice! Congratulations to our winners and their charities:

1^st Place: Ashbury Team
$3,000 donation to Homeward Animal Shelter

2^nd Place: Human Resources Team
$1,000 donation to Jeremiah Program

3^rd Place: Timberland Team
$500 donation to Homeward Animal Shelter

Take a look at the other great submissions by our talented team members here!

Are you interested in a career that gives you the opportunity to give back to your community? View our Career Opportunities!
 

The post Goldmark Teams Help earn $4,500 for Local Charities appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

The Goldmark Property Accountants spent a day out of the office volunteering for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity. The team worked on the Spartan Build project located in north Fargo. Habitat partners with business, churches and volunteers to build homes for qualifying families. The families also contribute sweat equity into building the homes and will make income-based mortgage payments, which goes into a fund that allows Habitat to build more homes.


 

During the day the accountants put down their calculators and pencils, and picked up power tools and ladders to assist with the front deck and the garage. A team member even went up on the roof to help with placement of the porch trusses. The team learned a lot and had a great time.

As part of our Goldmark Thrive program, each one of our departments or teams gets to adopt a charity of choice! By using their paid volunteer hours, this is a great opportunity to take some breaks from their day-to-day routine, have some fun with their team, and support a great cause while helping create a better living in our communities. Interested in joining our team and being a part of giving back to our communities? View our Career Opportunities.
 

The post Property Accountants Volunteer For Habitat For Humanity appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

Through fiscal and volunteer support, Goldmark actively contributes to several regional and national organizations which help to enrich the lives of those in our communities. On June 7th, members of our Payable Team visited Hope Blooms in Fargo, ND to volunteer. The team assembled flower bouquets of various sizes and colors, and enjoyed being able to use their creative side outside of the office.

 

The Goldmark Payable team includes Lilibeth Stroik, Lorri Jensen, Rikki Fugleberg, Shelby Platfers, and Annie Dafforn.

Hope Blooms uses repurposed flowers to create bouquets that are donated to individuals in hospice care, nursing homes, long-term care facilities and assisted living, memory care centers, shelters, women and families in need, and individuals facing difficult times. These bouquets are given to provide a sense of inclusion and to let individuals know that they belong, they are important, and they matter. Visit the Hope Blooms website to learn more about this great organization and how you can get involved.
 

The post The Goldmark Payable team volunteers appeared first on Goldmark Property Management Blog.

In times of tragedy and disaster, the American Red Cross restores hope within affected communities. From clean water to safe shelter, the American Red Cross provides a variety of basic needs to the people affected by the more than 60,000 disasters every year. Through the generous contributions of partners and volunteers, the American Red Cross is able to respond to an emergency every 8 minutes.

Goldmark has been a long-time partner of the American Red Cross. On April 28th, 2022, Goldmark presented the American Red Cross with a monetary donation to help with their life-saving efforts. The Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. initiative works to install free smoke alarms and share safety information in at-risk communities across the nation. In addition, Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. also helps families prepare for, respond to, and recover from home fires.

Dan Otto, Goldmark Regional Maintenance Manger, has seen the impact the American Red Cross has made on Goldmark residents and the entire community. "The Red Cross is a partner in a time of crisis. They stand with us in a time of tragedy, chaos, and panic to provide another arm of support to take care of our residents and take care of what everyone needs."

Interested in learning more about Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. or how you can be involved with the American Red Cross on a local level? Visit the American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region website: https://www.redcross.org/local/mn-nd-sd.html
 

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