Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. Let’s introduce the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) from Roswell, Georgia, founded in 1976. CNC believes the natural environment should be preserved and protected for future generations by connecting people with nature. CNC provides a safe and welcoming space for community members to connect with nature through education, interpretation, recreation, volunteerism and community events. “Environmental education is at the heart of everything we do at CNC. We engage, educate, and inspire visitors, particularly children, in the wonders of nature. As Atlanta’s nature destination, we welcome nearly 140,000 visitors annually and provide transformative experiences that inspire an environmentally empowered community,” said Kristen Felty, director of development for CNC. No other venue in the Atlanta area provides direct access to the Chattahoochee River and offers a wide range of education and conservation programming– guided hikes and canoeing to horticulture and wildlife rehabilitation. With its 50th anniversary approaching, CNC recognizes the need to update infrastructure to sustain its organization for another half-decade. CNC has started to upgrade its IT systems, plan for improvements to the physical buildings, and diversify its workforce, volunteer corps, membership, and visitor base. “We aim to increase opportunities to interpret the Chattahoochee River and its ecosystems by convening experts, continuing to promote CNC as a strategic resource for the southeast, and expanding recreational opportunities on the river through community partnerships,” Felty said. In addition, CNC plans to expand its adult education offerings and continue to deliver best-in-class environmental education programming for visitors of all ages and abilities. Funding from Yardi is critical to the operations of CNC since 30 percent of its operating budget originates as contributed income from individuals and organizations. These funds support its efforts to preserve 127 acres along the Chattahoochee River while providing environmental education programs to K-12 students and adults in a safe and welcoming space for wellness and recreation for visitors. Funds also support CNC’s work on rehabilitating nearly 700 native Georgia wildlife creatures, conversing native Georgia plants and growing produce for local food banks. “At CNC, we recognize that our work to preserve and protect the natural environment for future generations is only possible with generous financial support and volunteer assistance from companies like Yardi Atlanta,” said Felty. “We are grateful that our organizations and employees share a passion and commitment to the environment and look forward to working together to grow today’s and tomorrow’s nature enthusiasts. Educating the minds CNC’s educational programming continues to expand post-pandemic. These programs are proliferating, particularly as further studies illustrate the benefits of children and adults being outdoors. The mounting evidence of climate change has also inspired people to become more environmentally conscious. Felty shares, “One of our biggest success stories lies in our educational programming, where we maintain partnerships with two of our local school systems, Fulton County Schools Cultural Kaleidoscope Program that serves each of the district’s 7,000 second-grade students, and Atlanta Public Schools’ Cultural Experience Project (CEP) which provides environmental education field trips to the district’s first-grade students.” #TeamYardi Volunteers In a recent outing, #TeamYardi of the Atlanta office went to Chattahoochee Nature Center and worked in the Unity Garden, where fresh fruits and vegetables are grown from seed, harvested and donated to the North Fulton Community Charities Food Pantry. Nearly 5,000 clients are served by the food pantry annually, and CNC is the largest supplier of fresh produce, donating an average of four tons per year. An extensive network of volunteers and part-time staff members maintains CNC’s Unity Garden. CNC welcomes new corporate or individual volunteers to pitch around the 127-acre campus. Some group volunteer projects include invasive plant removal, habitat restoration and general campus cleanup. Individual volunteers are routinely needed to help at community events, serve as docents or support CNC’s horticulture team....

Let’s travel to Raleigh, North Carolina and introduce you to the Yardi-supported Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS). Founded in 1989, the IFFS mission is to feed neighbors, teach self-sufficiency, grow healthy foods and cultivate innovative approaches to end hunger. IFFS empowers its neighbors on their path to food security through food distributions, access to retail-quality produce from its farm and community gardens and nutrition and agriculture education. “We collaborate with over 200 community partners across our seven-county service area with the shared vision of a hunger-free community in central North Carolina,” shared Leigh Blancato, Corporate partnerships manager of IFFS. Last year, IFFS distributed 9 million pounds of food (37% was fresh produce) or 8 million meals across its partner agencies and programs network, including BackPack Buddies, School pantries, Mobile Markets and Grocery Bags for Seniors. They harvested over 70,000 pounds of retail-quality organic produce from its 14-acre farm for distribution to families experiencing hunger. IFFS engaged 758 children, families and seniors in 1,910 hours of nutrition education and built 30 Gardens for Everyone– raised bed gardens for neighbors of the community. To end hunger, IFFS learns the barriers that create the need for its service. Ending hunger means dismantling and replacing those barriers with an equitable food system framework. This calls for understanding the barriers to food access from those impacted, developing strategic community partnerships and collaborating to grow its programs to better support and serve the community. “Our goal is to provide 10 million pounds of nutritious food to chronically food insecure neighbors across our seven-county service area by increasing equitable food access in under-resourced communities as we address the barriers that create the need for our services,” said Blancato. Funding from Yardi is directed to the greatest need, providing food access and transformative education programs to chronically food-insecure neighbors in the counties they serve. The power and importance of unrestricted funds cannot be overstated, as it allows IFFS the flexibility to respond immediately to needs as they arise. Strong community partnerships with organizations committed to addressing the root causes of hunger and working together to advance hunger solutions are crucial to IFFS’s work. “We are immensely thankful for the continued generous support we have received from Yardi. Your support has had a transformational impact on the communities we serve. We are grateful to consider Yardi a partner as we work together to Feed, Teach, Grow and Cultivate approaches to end hunger,” enthused Blancato. Sharing is Caring Gladys is a mother and grandmother who attends a Mobile Market in Durham, NC, every month to pick up free groceries and fresh produce. She uses the food she receives to supplement her family’s budget as she cares for the nine family members. She began visiting the Mobile Market after her local grocery store closed, leaving her and her neighbors in a food desert. She especially loves the fresh produce she receives, as it reminds her of the fresh fruits and vegetables she had in Honduras growing up. In addition to feeding her family with the food received at the Mobile Market distribution, she also prepares nightly meals for neighbors experiencing homelessness, saying, “The things God gives to us, we’re supposed to share with others.” Volunteer Opportunities Volunteers are integral to the Food Shuttle’s mission and welcome the opportunity to have Yardi employees volunteer with them. They offer various options for individuals and groups, including Community Gardens in Raleigh and Durham, Food Packing in the warehouses and Gardens for Everyone to assist with building raised garden beds. Learn more about the different volunteer opportunities IFFS offers. Interested volunteers can contact the volunteer services team directly at [email protected] or 919-390-1974. “We’re thankful for the dedication and commitment from Yardi to create a hunger-free community in central North Carolina,” Blancato shared. Find future non-profit profiles...

Building on a history of supporting the pursuit of higher education, leading real estate technology provider Yardi is partnering with 20 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada to provide college scholarships to students with financial needs. The Yardi Foundation has committed over $10 million in scholarships and student support over the next four years. “Yardi recognizes that a college degree can be life-changing, especially for first-generation scholars, and we are excited to join these colleges and universities and help students achieve their goals,” said Jay Shobe, a Yardi senior vice president. Previously, Yardi had committed to scholarship support at four Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the Southeast, as well as the University of California, Santa Barbara. The newly announced scholarships will be available at: Arizona State University California State University, Channel Islands California State University, Fullerton University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Farmingdale State College Georgia State University Morehouse College North Carolina Central University North Carolina State Shaw University Spelman College Stony Brook University Toronto Metropolitan University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Irvine University of California, Santa Barbara University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill University of North Texas University of Texas, Arlington University of Texas, Austin Yardi Scholarships are designed for recipients with need, many of whom will be their family’s first immediate member to attend a four-year college. Selected students will have majors related to business or computer science. Students can contact their institutions’ financial aid departments for more information. Among the institutions offering Yardi Scholarships is Farmingdale State College in New York. “This is an incredibly generous gift that we are enormously grateful to receive on behalf of our students,” said Matthew Colson, vice president of development and communications. “Yardi is taking a leadership role in improving the futures of our distinctive and diverse community here at FSC. This investment will redefine the scope of opportunity for our students and is sure to pay dividends far into the...

Let the magic begin! Today, we journey to Berea, Ohio, for a Yardi-supported nonprofit, Working Animals Giving Service for Kids (W.A.G.S. 4 Kids), founded in 2004. W.A.G.S. 4 Kids provides mobility, autism and psychiatric service dogs for children throughout 35 northeast and central Ohio counties utilizing an award-winning Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) accredited Cell Dog Training Program.   W.A.G.S. 4 Kids hopes to target ten more partnerships with their already 32 families under contract, 23 dogs in training and more than 90 families in the application process. “In short, our goal is the same as it ever was- more dogs to more kids with shorter wait times,” shared Sera Nelson, executive director for W.A.G.S. 4 Kids. Funding from Yardi goes directly to supplement the cost of each service dog, and this year is rising from $28,000 to $35,000 due to inflation costs of food, travel, dog supplies, veterinary care, medications and training. “Thanks to Yardi, we remain committed to providing these animals at only a small fraction of that cost to our families, but we cannot do it alone,” shared Nelson. W.A.G.S. 4 Kids presents an opportunity for a child they see spending their life having things done to them and for them to reach out physically and emotionally and engage with the world around them. With Yardi’s support, confidence is shown in what the dogs provide in services for children to gain confidence, independence and empowerment for their futures. “I don’t know if I have words specifically to describe the reaction to Yardi’s support. Gratitude, for sure. The feeling of being adopted. The feeling of being understood. Of our kids being adopted and understood…valued. Though our intention is always to enhance a child’s wellness, we often cannot quantify our services’ effects on the confidence, independence, and empowerment of a child’s future,” Nelson enthused. This June, one of the W.A.G.S. 4 Kids service pups in training will be named Yardi- look for pictures and puppy updates soon! Myles Accomplishment W.A.G.S. 4 Kids first service was with Myles from Strongsville, Ohio, a four-year-old boy with Cerebral Palsy and paralysis of his left side. Myles was non-verbal since birth and communicated with simple Sign Language. W.A.G.S. dog AJ was partnered with Myles, and in the final phases of AJ’s training, trainers worked exclusively with hand signs so that Myles could communicate with AJ using his right hand. After the placement, Myles began to speak. However, his first word was not “Mommy” or “Daddy,” as parents hope to hear. Instead, Myles’ first word was “Come” because he wanted to talk to his Service Dog, AJ. “Since that time, when posting photos of children, we serve alongside the dogs we’ve placed with them, we use the phrase let the magic begin because that’s the reality of what these dogs can do and be in the lives of children with disabilities,” Nelson shared. Beyond Myles, W.A.G.S. 4 Kids has repeatedly seen the sense of autonomy service dogs can restore. Volunteer Opportunities There are always opportunities to get involved with W.A.G.S. 4 Kids. Interested volunteers can contact them here. Find future non-profit profiles...

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2022, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. Meet GiGi’s Playhouse of Cleveland, Ohio. Initially founded in 2003 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland opened in January 2016 as the 28th Playhouse. GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland is an achievement center that changes lives through the consistent delivery of almost 20 free educational, therapeutic-based and career development programs for individuals with Down Syndrome, their families and the community—currently serving over 530 families in Northeast Ohio. “Through these free programs and our Generation G Campaign for global acceptance, GiGi’s Playhouse and its network of 57 Playhouses across the US and Mexico empower families by maximizing opportunities for daily achievement and lasting acceptance,” said Lizz Maxwell, site director. To ensure lasting acceptance, GiGi’s Playhouse shows the world what individuals with Down syndrome can achieve as students, co-workers, volunteers, friends and valued community members. GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland continues to grow its research-driven, purposeful programs, all at no cost to families. “We want to grow our Amina Grace Speech and Language Program, as well as work towards our strategic vision of opening GiGi University for our adults,” shared Maxwell. Funding from Yardi has helped in the instrumental education and belief of GiGi’s Playhouse participants, from manipulatives and resources to the vital therapies they offer. Every dollar is spent on improving the Playhouse and serving the community. GiGiFit Kid’s Squat Jump Summer classes at the Playhouse focus on improving various activities, particularly their variation of a squat jump. Practicing all summer, the kids standing up from a chair and using that momentum to jump forward works to build muscle in the hips and quadriceps, vital for everyday activities like running and playing. Watch a video of the kids perfecting their squat jumps last summer. Reaching for the sky Libby Farrell, GiGi’s Playhouse’s Speech Language Pathologist, has been working with Kash during their current Amina Grace Speech and Language Program session. Libby and Kash instantly cultivated a powerful rapport, which provides a secure foundation for Kash’s continued growth, communication and achievement. Kash shows up with enthusiasm and curiosity for his Amina Grace Speech and Language session each week. These characteristics are critical to his communication success. Kash is a multi-modal communicator; he uses various communication modes, including sounds, words, ASL signs, facial expressions and pictures. Kash is engaged during sessions as they move through various activities that he chooses, each of which is embedded with communication opportunities. He is curious and willing to explore new tools, such as picture communication boards and speech-generating devices, that allow him to express himself better.  But most of all, Kash does ordinary things in extraordinary ways: Just like the rest of us, sometimes Kash needs some “help.” He lets you know by assessing the ASL sign, which requires an upward hand lift. In Kash’s unique way, though, his hand shoots up as high as he can reach, and his request for help does not go unnoticed. Volunteer Opportunities Interested volunteers can be involved with GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland’s achievement center, offering various volunteer opportunities, from tutoring, program assisting, greeters, cleaning, events and committees. Complete a volunteer form from their website or contact their operations manager, Mary Makulinski, at [email protected]. Find future non-profit profiles...

Let’s swim over to The New York Marine Rescue Center located in Riverhead, Long Island, founded in 1996, a rescue and rehabilitation organization that promotes marine conservation and is the primary responder for sick marine life like seals, sea turtles, dolphins, porpoises and small-toothed whales. Their mission is to preserve and protect the marine environment through various conservation efforts such as rescue, rehabilitation, education and research. It is the only marine mammal and sea turtle rehabilitation center in New York State. To assist the organization with its mission, #TeamYardi members from the Long Island, NY office had 27 volunteers that went to Robert Moses Beach for recent beach clean-up days. One of the groups gathered over 21 pounds of debris. The employees enjoyed a day at the beach and made an incredible impact on the marine environment. In addition to two beach clean-up days, eight volunteers represented Yardi at the New York Marine Rescue Center’s Ocean of Hope event. Yardi contributed a charitable donation, and the volunteers enjoyed silent auctions, music and...

Each year, Yardi distributes philanthropic aid worldwide to organizations selected by its employees. In 2022, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will bring you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Let’s meet The Wild Animal Sanctuary of Keenesburg, Colorado, founded in 1980, rescuing captive-bred carnivores from abuse and neglect. The Sanctuary provides them with large-acreage habitats and educates the public about the animal’s plights and the Captive Wildlife Crisis. The Sanctuary travels across America and into foreign countries around the world to rescue animals that are suffering. The Wild Animal Sanctuary continues to rescue, rehabilitate and provide the best care possible to the 750+ large carnivores and other animals that call the Sanctuary home. “We will continue to work tirelessly to educate the public about the Captive Wildlife Crisis as we host over 200,000 visitors a year at our Keenesburg facility,” said Michelle McGraw, development director of The Wild Animal Sanctuary. Funding from Yardi has helped the Sanctuary provide state-of-the-art medical care and offers top-quality food for the animals in its care. “Yardi has been supporting us for many years, and we cannot thank you enough for supporting such a deserving cause. We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The Animals’ lives are so positively affected by your continued generosity,” shared McGraw. Dillan’s Journey Dillan is a male Asiatic black bear rescued from a sportsmen’s club in rural Pennsylvania. Subjected to the sound of constant gunfire from the shooting ranges and with no enrichment, Dillan suffered from serve zoochosis, where he rocked rhythmically against a concrete wall for hours on end, according to one person familiar with the situation. He also suffered from morbid obesity due to his poor diet and lack of exercise and had a mouthful of rotting teeth and gums. With pressure from many fronts for the club to either better care for Dillan or let him go to an accredited sanctuary, the club owner finally agreed to release him to the USDA, freeing him to The Wild Animal Sanctuary. Dillan will now join one of the Sanctuary’s female Asiatic Bears. McGraw enthused, “They will roam freely in a large acreage habitat and enjoy living a healthy life, free from harm and doing everything bears enjoy!” Volunteer opportunities The Sanctuary can utilize long-term volunteers since they operate a 1,214-acre facility with over 600 large carnivores in residence, but they require extensive training. The Wild Animal Sanctuary is one of the only facilities in the country that focuses on and routinely provides large acreage habitats where animals can live permanently. Interested volunteers can apply here. Find future non-profit profiles...

Yardi is committed to supporting the community in every city where our offices are housed. Each year, the company distributes philanthropic aid to organizations selected by its employees. In 2022, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will bring you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Meet the Idaho Anti-Trafficking Coalition (IATC), founded in 2018 in Boise, Idaho, whose mission is to work alongside community members in providing awareness, education, services and safe housing for victims of human trafficking in Idaho. The organization focuses on these six areas of service: Community, outreach, educational training and advocacy– delivering survivor-centered outreach materials, research-based human trafficking 101 training, prevention and community awareness, technical assistance and community collaboration. “In 2022, IATC provided 57 human trafficking 101 presentations, totaling 88 hours, with 1,579 individuals trained,” said Jennifer Zielinski, Executive Director of IATC. Crisis and Resource Hotline– privacy-protected call or text, trauma-informed intake, crisis/ emergency response, safety planning, direct resources and information, relocation assistance, and transportation. Direct Victim Services– victims’ rights, case management, crisis intervention, emergency intervention, emergency/transitional/permanent housing, victim advocacy/accompaniment, transportation, emergency food/clothing/essential, victim services and support. Last year IATC provided over 500 individuals with thousands of counts of these assistances and services.  Resource Room– case planning, emotional and safety support, emergency food/clothing/essentials, information and referrals to local, state and national resources. Intervention Resources– victim-centered and trauma-informed intake/screening, trauma-specific assessment tools, victim advocacy, policy/system advocacy and safe delivery of services/continuum of care. Direct Service Delivery Network– education, facilitated community collaboration, multidisciplinary teams, community partnerships agreements and contract services. IATC’s vision for the year ahead is to prioritize human trafficking in Idaho to keep the community and economy healthy and safe. “We plan to continue expanding our anti-trafficking efforts to reach more communities so that Idaho’s children, youth, and adults will have access to a victim-centered system of care that contributes to their economic, health and safety,” shared Zielinski. She continued, “We honor our coalition model through community engagement and are grateful for our staff, board of directors, volunteers, community partners, donors, and funders that continue to support the organization’s mission so that we can continue our work.” Funding from Yardi will be utilized to directly support all IATC’s goals to strive for the same or even better outcomes for 2023. “Without Yardi’s 2022 support and now, 2023 support, we would not be able to expand our efforts and face the reality of turning people away,” Zielinski shared. IATC client success story Sarah (not her real name) had a life-changing experience with the Idaho Anti-Trafficking Coalition. IATC provided practical assistance in relocation to a safe place, providing resources for safe housing and assisting with car repairs and maintenance so she could get to work and school. Additionally, they helped her create a safety plan to maintain safety. Furthermore, IATC has provided ongoing rehabilitation and support to return to school, hoping to get a degree in social work. With the help of IATC, Sarah got her CDL license and training to become a school bus driver, her first real job. They also provided her with the advocacy to ensure she receives the necessary support to become a survivor rather than a victim of human trafficking. The IATC helped Sarah regain control of her life and overcome the trauma of being a victim of severe human trafficking. Volunteer Opportunities IATC will have some volunteer opportunity events throughout the year. Yardi employees and the community are encouraged to contact Kevin Zielinski at [email protected] or 208-630-6601. “IATC is grateful to everyone at Yardi for your support that has enabled us to pursue our mission of building trauma-informed, systemic responses throughout Idaho to combat Human Trafficking,” Zielinski shared. Find future non-profit profiles...

Happy Earth Day! Among Yardi’s philanthropic priorities is supporting organizations that protect endangered wildlands and habitats. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada’s unifying force for nature, working to deliver large-scale permanent land conservation. Established in 1962 in Toronto and Ontario, Canada, they have helped protect more than 15 million hectares nationwide. NCC manages nature long-term through donations, purchases, and conservation agreements. When habitats are integrated and connected, and entire natural systems are conserved, nature can better deliver essential services that support life. “By connecting landscapes that provide nature-based solutions, we’re taking care of places that clean our water, purify our air, absorb and store carbon, and support food security,” said Naomi Heller, senior development officer, and corporate development at NCC. Protecting connected habitats also supports the species that live there, including close to one-third of Canada’s species at risk. As the leading conservation organization, NCC has a unique opportunity to contribute the skills acquired to assist Indigenous communities and nations in achieving their conservation and stewardship goals. “With nature, we are building a thriving world,” enthused Heller. NCC is in year two of its eight-year strategic plan, which will mobilize Canadians to accelerate conservation, doubling its impact by 2030. “Major components of this plan include conserving an additional 1M hectares, being a key partner and ally to Indigenous Peoples through conservation, unlocking solutions to support Canada’s 30X30 targets, and growing our community of supporters to 1 million,” Heller said. NCC plans to prioritize activities that drive these objectives, including evolving culture to foster organizational alignment, integrating marketing and fundraising across NCC to grow revenue, accelerating conservation through innovation and technology, and optimizing delivery through strategic partnerships. Conserving the Boreal Wildlands Yardi’s class-leading investment helped contribute to and close the most significant conservation project in Canadian history—the Boreal Wildlands in northern Ontario. With Yardi’s help in 2022, NCC acquired the 145,000-hectare/350,000-acre property to protect it from future development. Conservation work at this scale is urgently needed worldwide to help respond to the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. “In the time since we purchased the Boreal Wildlands property in 2022, NCC’s conservation staff have been collecting data about species on the property using various methods,” shared Heller. “On-site visits, trail cameras, and even helicopter monitoring have revealed mink, fisher, lynx, wolves, otters, and many moose traversing the property’s forests and peatlands, not to mention a plethora of songbirds both seen and heard.” The Boreal Forest is known as North America’s songbird nursery. Attracted by its plentiful food during the summer months, many species of warblers, sparrows, thrushes, and more return here every year to breed. The Boreal Wildlands property will help nurture these populations in the future. In addition, landscape protection secures species at risk and ensures ongoing carbon absorption. “The entire team at NCC is grateful to Yardi for taking a leadership position for conservation in Canada and being a key partner to the organization. Yardi’s investment in protecting nature has a strong and measurable impact on mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss,” shared Heller. In addition, Yardi’s funds will also help NCC manage the property in the future. NCC’s team is already at work on the ground documenting the many species of animals and plants that call this site home. This information will help NCC develop a management plan to maximize the site’s biodiversity values and ecological services. Ongoing volunteer opportunities Grasslands are one of the world’s most critical landscapes. Prairie regions in North America contain some of the last intact grasslands, which are under severe threat. The grasslands absorb vast volumes of carbon and are home to many at-risk species. In June this year, NCC will launch a campaign to protect 500,000 hectares / 1.2M acres of this vital landscape by 2030. NCC regularly hosts free, public volunteer events across the country between May and September, which can be accessed here. No time...

The Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) is on a mission to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger. Founded in 1981 in Austin, Texas, the Yardi-supported food bank fights against hunger by soliciting, receiving, storing and distributing donated food to community service partner agencies that directly serve individuals in need. CTFB is a critical part of Austin’s food safety net infrastructure, serving as the primary food source for 250 food pantries, mobile pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other human service agencies. Through economies of scale, CTFB can procure food and distribute it to social service agencies at a lesser cost than other agencies. The result is more food available for distribution to low-income clients by all agencies. “CTFB is the primary food source for the agencies we serve, providing 75 percent of all food distributed throughout the network each year,” said Nigel Fuentes, corporate relations manager at CTFB. Supply chain issues were a significant challenge in the 2022 reporting term for CTFB. There were many factors from high consumer demand, weather, and geopolitics – to packaging, labor, transportation, and ingredient supply shortages. “In the short term, we’ve reorganized our food sourcing team, and they’re aggressively pursuing new food donor relationships,” shared Fuentes. “We’re stabilizing our shopping list with staple items and sourcing substantial quantities of fresh produce, which is more available in today’s national food supply and meets our goals to provide healthy food options.” In addition, CTFB is doing more to address the root causes of hunger and focusing on benefits assistance, workforce solutions, and health outcomes. These changes will help insulate the food bank from market fluctuations they experienced last year. Funding from Yardi is used to support food acquisition and distribution. “Funding will help our mission to nourish hungry people by supporting CTFB’s food assistance programs and enabling us to meet the ongoing demand for our services in 2023,” shared Fuentes. Volunteer Opportunities #TeamYardi in the Austin office will volunteer once a quarter for half a day each visit. “The Central Texas Food Bank is proud to partner with Yardi to help fight hunger issues in our community, and we look forward to partnering for years to come,” enthused Fuentes. Volunteers are the heart and soul of CTFB. Weekday and weekend volunteer opportunities are available, perfect for individuals and groups. Help prepare food donations for distribution and distribute food at mobile food pantries. Find out more information about volunteering here. Find future non-profit profiles...

Let’s get to know another standout North American hunger prevention organization supported by Yardi, the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) of Atlanta, GA. Founded in 1979, ACFB is the central hub in the fight against hunger in Atlanta and North Georgia. ACFB’s primary focus is collecting and distributing donated food and goods and managing all the logistics and partner relationships that go with it. In addition, ACFB offers some social services to those directly in need and has supplemental food pantries and mobile markets to get food to underserved areas their partner agencies can’t reach. “Last fiscal year, we distributed 93 million pounds of food to our over 700 partners in 29 county service areas,” said Ben Burgess, corporate relations manager for ACFB. ACFB foresees government cuts to the SNAP program this year and recently had the expiration of the Child Tax Credit, which helped decrease child food insecurity by over 25 percent during the pandemic. “Our goal is the make sure we have enough funding to purchase enough food to fill these food gaps in the coming year,” shared Burgess. ACFB is hoping to open one, and possibly two, Community Food Centers in their service area that will be focused on local areas with high rates of food insecurity and are designed to be open four days a week for food distribution to meet the growing demand and reduce barriers to food access. Funding from Yardi has provided enough support this year to help over 180,000 meals for families in need. Since March 2020, Yardi has helped ACFB give over 2 million meals to families in need. “The support we have received from Yardi has been unwavering and absolutely vital to our work,” shared Burgess. “Your support has literally saved lives, and you are a true community partner, and we are so grateful to you all!” Family support It was a tough school year for kids like Nathan, not just because of math class. Most nights, there’s not much food at home. His dad, Seth, works a lot, and when he is home, he’s tired and there isn’t much in the fridge. Nathan’s hungry, anxious about school, and worried about his Dad. That’s why this family is thankful for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Despite historically expensive food prices, they still have the chance to have the nutritious meals they need thanks to ACFB. “I do everything I can, but everything just isn’t enough anymore,” Seth said. “Knowing that this community won’t let my family go hungry is a relief I’ve never experienced.” Volunteer Opportunities The Atlanta Yardi Breeze Premier team recently volunteered at the ACFB’s Hunger Action Center. This center is available seven days a week except on holidays. Details below: Address: 3400 North Desert Drive, Atlanta, GA 30344 Shifts: Monday – Sunday 8:30 am – 11:30 am or 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm Shift maximum: 60 volunteers in a single shift  Activity: Join the fight to end hunger with a high-energy session of activities at ACFB’s brand-new Atlanta warehouse. As a Hunger Action Center volunteer, you may assist with many tasks, including sorting and packing recently donated food, repackaging produce or grains for families, or boxing non-perishable items for seniors across Atlanta. Several projects in the Hunger Action Center guarantee a fantastic day of volunteering! In addition, ACFB will train you on your day of service for the day’s project. So rest assured that the music is loud, the packing is fast-paced, and the personal reward of making a difference can’t be replaced. To register your group, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ben Burgess, [email protected] “You should know how supportive the company has truly been for the metro Atlanta and Northwest Georgia area and the people we serve. Thanks to Yardi, many families couldn’t choose between eating and keeping the lights on, getting the medicine needed, or paying the rent. So, from the bottom of...

Yardi has long supported The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, which has been the region’s leading food distribution and hunger-relief organization for over 40 years. Company support includes financial contributions, matching grants and frequent staff volunteer opportunities from departments across Yardi. Western Residential CSD team members volunteered with the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, picking over 3,000 pounds of oranges for the Foodbank to distribute to families. Established in 1982, the Foodbank’s mission is to end hunger and transform the health of Santa Barbara County with good nutrition. The Foodbank’s strategic plan takes a holistic approach to fighting hunger through healthy food distribution, empowering nutrition and food literacy education, and disaster preparedness and response. “The Foodbank serves 200,000 unduplicated clients each year with over 10 million pounds of food, 43 percent of which is fresh produce,” shared Jenifer Sanregret, corporate giving manager. The Foodbank pairs food distribution efforts with various innovative direct-to-client services with programming focusing on food literacy and nutritional education. These programs address food insecurity and hunger by providing access to nutritious food and nutrition education, contributing to food literacy and healthy outcomes. The Foodbank uses census and school meal data to prioritize programs in low-income and rural areas with high rates of food insecurity. All food and nutrition education programs are offered free cost to children, families and seniors. Foodbank of Santa Barbara County staff. “The Foodbank is currently three-quarters of the way through our 2022-2023 fiscal year. Based on current trends, we expect to provide 1,500 seniors with 499,500 pounds of healthy foods, including 183,500 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, by the end of FY23,” said Sanregret. Funding from Yardi has helped provide healthy food and fresh produce to all food-insecure individuals countywide. Funds are used to make purchases of pantry staples such as rice, beans and whole grains, and fresh produce like apples, mandarins and artichokes. The Santa Barbara foodbank will be opening a new facility called the Sharehouse/Warehouse in December 2023. A place to share food, education, and hope for the community. The new Sharehouse will cut fuel emissions, reduce food waste, and increase food safety. Additionally, it will allow the Foodbank to store more than 750,000 pounds of food, making 585,000 meals available for immediate distribution and enabling them to accept 80,000 more pounds of food donations each week. Friendly competition: Yardi Santa Barbara participates in the End Hunger Games In November 2022 as well as in many past years, Yardi Santa Barbara employees participated in the End Hunger Games campaign, a friendly competition between local companies. Employees worked together to raise money, host internal food drives, volunteer at Backyard Bounty Glean and spread awareness about the efforts throughout the community. “Your partnership gives us a special sense of gratitude because we recognize the important value of collaboration in meeting the community’s needs.” Sanregret continued, “This tremendous support is very much needed as 38 percent of children in our county are food insecure, and we continue to see an increase in the cost of groceries. We are so grateful for the support from Yardi and the efforts made by all the employees to help us continue our work to end hunger and transform the health of our community.” Ongoing Santa Barbara County volunteer opportunities The Foodbank is always looking for volunteers to assist with its programs. Needs include volunteers to sort and pre-pack groceries for distribution at the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria warehouses, delivery drivers for seniors, and educators for children’s nutrition programs. “Volunteers who work with older adults provide clients with a source of comfort and socialization after two years of sheltering in place. The best way to get involved with the Foodbank is to create an account through Volunteer Hub and “Opt-In” to our emails. We will email you as new volunteer opportunities, and community distributions are added,” shared Sanregret. Find future non-profit profiles...