Continuing a longstanding focus on education, Yardi is pleased to announce the establishment of new scholarships at four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Atlanta and Raleigh, cities that are also home to Yardi offices. There are 107 colleges in the United States that are identified by the U.S. Department of Education as HBCUs. Most were established in the Southern U.S. prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and were created to provide opportunities to Black Americans who were excluded from attending other higher education institutions during segregation. HBCUs are known for providing diverse and inclusive communities of scholarship, strong academic preparedness for post-college life and rewarding student and alumni experiences. HBCUs Morehouse College, Spelman College, North Carolina Central University and Shaw University will be home to four-year full tuition scholarships funded by Yardi that will begin in Fall 2022. Yardi already supports secondary education in its hometown of Santa Barbara, California through its support of the UC Santa Barbara School of Engineering, Santa Barbara City College, CSU Channel Islands, and the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation. Reflecting Yardi’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, Yardi’s executive team decided to support secondary education at HBCUs. A working group of Yardi employees, James Armour, Jackie Jones and Adrian Paul, led the effort to identify the best institutions to fund and the scope of the scholarships, supported by philanthropic leads Liana Rao and Arnie Brier. “Expanding our commitment to continuing education by funding full scholarships at HBCUs is incredibly important to the company,” said Rao. “These scholarships exemplify our corporate commitment to diversity and inclusion at Yardi. We hire talented folks from all four of these schools and are excited to expand our partnership with each university.” James Armour, Finance Director in Yardi’s Atlanta office, commented on the critical impact that support of HBCU students can provide. “In life, we have different starting lines and some people start ahead of others. I think this is just one step in moving that starting line for those who are at the back. I see this is as life changing for the recipients that will be receiving these scholarships. They will be that much closer to their goals,” Armour said. Jackie Jones, a Senior HR Manager in Yardi’s Raleigh office and a graduate of NCCU, described the significant impact attending an HBCU had on her college experience and life. “The HBCU experience, for me, was nurturing but also provided lessons at every turn,” Jones recalled. “I still attend homecoming events each year when I can. I made friends during college who are still among my best friends today.” Marcus Rutherford, a member of Yardi’s corporate training team, attended Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU in North Carolina, said that his experience at the school has empowered his future. “It’s a legacy that I hold near and dear to my heart. As an alumnus I can encourage dreamers wanting to attend college to believe in their dreams. Don’t just reach for the stars. Be the star,” Rutherford said.Learn more about HBCUs and more about Yardi’s corporate philanthropy...

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 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today we introduce you to the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), Canada’s largest social housing provider. They aim to provide clean, safe, well-maintained, affordable homes for residents. Through collaboration and with residents’ needs at the forefront, TCHC connects residents to services and opportunities and help foster great neighborhoods where people can thrive. The Toronto Community Housing leads with respect, accountability, community collaboration, integrity, and accessibility for persons with disabilities. TCHC also has several programs for children and young people such as after-school programs to scholarships. “Yardi is a generous supporter of the Investing in Our Diversity Scholarships program with eight young people receiving Yardi Canada Diversity Scholarships in 2022,” says Toshania Williams, Supervisor of Program Supports and Implementation at TCHC. Funds from Yardi will help the organization meet its goals this year and allow tenants to pursue their educational and career dreams. “Our priorities for the year to come are to provide better engagement opportunities to young people to build education, employment, and social and leadership skill development,” said Williams. “Investing in strategies that engage youth in positive activities that lead to personal growth and community development in areas of safety, leadership engagement, recreation, and economic development.” Fiza’s Toronto Community Housing story Fiza Qazi is a tenant of TCHC who recently received the Yardi Canada Diversity Scholarship and hasambitions to work towards a career in technology management. “Fiza is passionate about technology and coding and is currently attending Toronto Metropolitan University to obtain a business degree,” shares Williams. “Over the years Yardi has gifted our tenants with technology, scholarships, and more,” says Williams. “We publicized our relationship with Yardi in media releases, social media posts, and our 2021 Annual Report.” Volunteer opportunities in Toronto Toronto Community Housing welcomes volunteers for general support for programming and events. Yardi employees that wish to volunteer can send Debra Shaw an email at  [email protected]. A screening may be needed so be sure to visit the Toronto Police Services for more information and requirements. Learn more about Toronto Community Housing at torontohousing.ca, and find future non-profit profiles at...

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 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, let’s learn more about Island Harvest Food Bank in Melville, NY. Island Harvest Food Bank provides healthy food and support services to hundreds of thousands of Long Island veterans, seniors, and families through both direct delivery programs and through a network of approximately 300 soup kitchens, food pantries, and other emergency feeding programs. “Increased need across Long Island, coupled with skyrocketing food costs and supply chain issues, have added additional challenges for Island Harvest to ensure that we are able to provide healthy food to those in need,” shared Joan Flynn, Business Engagement Manager for the Food Bank. “The cost of food has increased by more than 10 percent over the past three months alone. The cost of fuel for our trucks to pick-up and deliver food has increased by more than 94 percent since last year. As the food industry continues to make shifts in its business model, the amount of donated food that we receive has dropped dramatically.” Support from Yardi and other donors is crucial during this difficult time. “Generous funding from Yardi will support the purchase and distribution of healthy food and product and the provision of supportive services to Long Islanders experiencing food insecurity,” Flynn said. Since 2017, funding from Yardi has supported the distribution of more than 175,000 meals to Long Islanders in need.In addition, regional Yardi employees have donated their time by collecting food and funds for Island Harvest and providing volunteer support.   Providing food security On a daily basis, Island Harvest staff encounter Long Islanders struggling to survive, struggling to put food on the table, or facing the unenviable choice of between buying medicine, gas for the car to get to work, and buying food. “People are finding ways to survive and employing coping strategies like watering down food and drinks to make them go further or selling possessions just to buy food,” Flynn said. One such story is that of a woman who works in Melville, where the Food Bank is located. Her husband, a veteran, passed away seven years ago, leaving her with two children, and no insurance. Despite working full-time, she hasn’t been able to get on her feet, and mostly all of her paycheck goes to pay the mortgage and property taxes. “Afraid and embarrassed to stop in and ask for help, she drove past our Melville facility numerous times before finally working up the courage to come in. We directed her to a local food pantry in East Northport, and since her husband served in the military, we are actively connecting her through our Operation: HOPE program to see if she may be eligible for certain veteran’s benefits, and services.” “We provided the family with food, offered her assistance in applying for SNAP and other benefits, but most of all we offered comfort and hope in knowing that she is not alone, and that help, along with a kind word, is always a phone call away.” A pivotal moment Flynn shared that this is a critical time in Island Harvest Food Bank’s nearly 30-year history as programs, services, community partnerships, and the number of member agencies served are growing exponentially in the wake of the pandemic. Island Harvest recently purchased a new facility, more than doubling its office and warehouse space, which will enable the organization to collect, sort, store and distribute more food and product, thereby serving more people in need. “But more importantly, Island Harvest also seeks to empower our clients to transition from uncertainty to stability with an array...

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 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, learn about Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, which increases access to healthcare for Atlanta’s youth and Georgia’s families, while at the same time, offering comfort and hope during difficult medical journeys. “The mission of Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities (ARMHC) is to nurture the health and well-being of children and families,” said Alissa Scherb, Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations for the organization. “Since opening the initial Atlanta Ronald McDonald House in 1979, ARMHC has remained dedicated to fulfilling this mission by providing housing and support services for families of seriously ill and injured children being treated at local hospitals.” ARMHC’s core programming has expanded to address community needs, and includes two Ronald McDonald Houses, a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and a Ronald McDonald Family Room. Many guests stay at the organization’s Houses for weeks, or even months, during their child’s treatment. In 2021, the average stay in the Houses was 21 nights, and the longest stay was 262 nights. “Our cost associated with housing and related services is $125 per night, and our requested family contribution is just $20 per night,” Scherb said. “Those who have been financially devastated by medical bills and other expenses often cannot afford this amount, yet we never turn a family away for inability to pay. Last year, 94 percent of families who stayed at our Houses were unable to afford any contribution toward their House stay and would not be able to afford care for their children without our Houses.” Yardi’s support of the Adopt-A-Room Program has adopted two guest rooms and one Transplant Suite. This program provides operating support that offsets the costs of housing families, such as utilities, linens and cleaning, as well as annual repairs like paint or carpet tiles. So far in 2022, these three rooms have hosted 15 families for 299 nights. “We are so incredibly grateful for the long-term support we have received from Yardi. You allow us to make our Houses ‘home’ for families when they need us most.  Together we are making sure children from across the state have access to the best healthcare possible. We couldn’t do it without you,” said Scherb. A glimpse of one family’s experience Scherb shared the story of one mother who received support from ARMHC. “One day, her young daughter fell on the sidewalk and started having a seizure. It was so bad, she had to be airlifted to the hospital. The young girl was put into a medically induced coma to stop the seizures. When her daughter woke up, she didn’t recognize her mother. The girl couldn’t talk. Couldn’t walk. She had to relearn everything.” “The emotionally drained mother checked into one of our Houses, and the first night she sat in the kitchen alone, since the rest of the family hadn’t been able to join her yet. She stared down helplessly at her meal. When she lifted her eyes, they met the eyes of another mother. In a look, the other mother’s eyes said, ‘I understand how you feel.’ The woman came over, introduced herself, and shared her own story. It was the first House friendship this mother made.” Years have passed since then, and the woman’s daughter is now a teenager doing well. Her family has stayed at ARMHC Houses numerous times over the years. “When the mother makes a new House friend, she adds them into her phone as ‘ARMHC [name],’ and she realized she had over 20 friends, and she emphasized these were friends—people she would continue to regularly connect...

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 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, let’s get to know Oxnard, Calif.-based Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, which builds homes in partnership with local, low-income families who invest 500 hours of “sweat equity” into building their future homes, which they purchase for an affordable mortgage. “We provide no-cost, critical health and safety home repairs to seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and other low-income homeowners so they can remain in their homes safely and comfortably in the long-term. We advocate at all levels of government for policies that create more affordable housing for struggling individuals and families,” said Katie Norris, Director of Development & Communications To date, the organization has completed 72 homes and has five more currently underway. This has helped 72 families become first-time homeowners. They have also completed nearly 200 home repairs. This year, Habitat for Humanity is beginning a 10-home build in Simi Valley, completing dozens more home repairs for low-income homeowners across Ventura County, and pushing state lawmakers to include significantly more funding for affordable owner-occupied housing and mortgage assistance for low-income families in the state budget. “The generous funding we received from Yardi will help us significantly as we build and repair dozens more homes in Ventura County over the next several years,” said Norris. “We are incredibly grateful to Yardi for the high level of support they’ve given us over the past couple of years. Our work is made possible by local donors like Yardi who feel passionately about our vision to create a county where everyone has a decent place to live.” One family’s story Meet Deana and her daughter, Saynt. Deana is a hardworking single mom who has been searching for a safe place to live with her five-year-old daughter for a long time. Often forced to move from place to place and renting rooms and apartments in unsafe neighborhoods, Deana worried that Saynt wouldn’t be able to thrive like other children. “She dreamed of a place they could call their own, but with the ever-increasing cost of living, homeownership seemed impossible,” said Norris. One day, “Saynt’s preschool teacher told her that they were a Habitat homeowner, and that it had changed their family’s life. Deana found Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County and added her name to our interest list.” When the opportunity to become a Habitat homeowner in Port Hueneme came up, Deana was first in line to apply. Deana has invested several hundred hours into building her future home alongside Habitat Ventura volunteers and will move into her new home this summer. “I can’t wait to move in, have financial stability and a home where my daughter can flourish… I can’t wait to live freely without the stress of having to move repeatedly. Thank you to everyone at Habitat Ventura, from the bottom of my heart,” said Deana. “A common misconception about Habitat is that we give homes away. We do not – we offer a hand up to low-income families through affordable homeownership opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. We help families access financing and Habitat Ventura families’ monthly mortgage payments are usually lower than what they were paying to live in substandard housing,” explained Norris. “Affordable homeownership is a roadmap out of poverty – families earn equity over time, they don’t have to move from place to place, and the benefits last for generations. Families break the cycle of uncertainty and fear and can finally invest in themselves and their communities.” Volunteer opportunities for Southern California employees Habitat Ventura relies on thousands of volunteers per year to advance its...

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 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County in Irvine, Calif. is in the spotlight. Second Harvest’s mission is to end hunger in Orange County. The organization works with a network of more than 250 partners, including places of worship, schools, senior centers, homeless shelters and others to provide  healthy food and to help build their capacity to receive and distribute nutritious food. Additionally, Second Harvest operates key programs aimed at providing much-needed food to vulnerable populations. These core hunger-relief programs include Mobile Pantry; Mobile and Permanent School Pantries, and College Pantry; Kids Cafe, Senior Grocery, and Park-It Market. “The goal of our hunger-relief efforts is to provide a safety net to the people we serve. We know these families are not relying solely on Second Harvest for their meals; rather, we provide support to help those struggling to make ends meet and offset their expenses, ensuring their limited funds can be spent on other needs, such as rent, gas, bills, medication,” said Megan Hunker, Donor Relations Manager for Second Harvest. In fiscal year 2022, which concluded in April, Second Harvest distributed almost 36 million pounds of food to an average of 331,000 people per month. Nutrition support for those in need “We believe that providing dignified, equitable and consistent access to nutritious food creates a foundation for community health and is a catalyst for societal transformation,” stated Hunker. “This coming year we are focused on purchasing nutritious food items like eggs, milk, and protein items and growing produce at our Harvest Solutions Farm.” Families like Victor and Elizabeth’s are among those served. Victor, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and his wife, Elizabeth, face challenging times. When Victor suddenly faced a serious health challenge, Elizabeth had no choice but to quit her job and take care of him. As a result, they live off a fixed income that barely makes ends meet; some months the ends never meet at all. “Second Harvest are angels in disguise,” says Elizabeth. “If it were not for the food bank, we would have an even harder time.” Yardi’s funds support Second Harvest general operations, “which gives us great flexibility to use the donation where it is needed most such as purchasing nutritious food, building out partnership capacity and more,” Hunker said. “Yardi’s support came at a time during COVID when many distribution sites shut down, un/under employment skyrocketed, and the supply chain took a hit. The funds donated by Yardi helped Second Harvest meet the increased need as we completely shifted our operations and started purchasing the majority of the food that was being distributed,” Hunker explained. Volunteer opportunities in Orange County Second Harvest currently offers two in-person volunteer opportunities. One opportunity is in the Distribution Center (DC), Monday-Friday with morning and evening shifts available. Volunteers in the DC assist in a variety of projects that help sort and process food to send out. The second opportunity is at Harvest Solutions Farm, Tuesday-Saturday with morning shifts available. Volunteers help plant, harvest, weed and maintain the fields of the Harvest Solutions Farm located just down the road from the food bank in Irvine, Calif. Second Harvest started a 45-acre farm in partnership with OC Produce and AG Kawamura at University of California’s SCREC. At Harvest Solutions Farm, they grow seasonal crops, including cabbage, broccoli, celery, bell peppers, watermelon, and squash, to provide over 2 million pounds of fresh produce to the community each year. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please visit: https://feedoc.org/get-involved/#volunteer To learn more about Second Harvest, visit https://feedoc.org and...

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 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, we bring you the story of Second Helpings Atlanta, a nonprofit that reduces food insecurity and food waste in Metro Atlanta by rescuing fresh, surplus food and delivering it to nonprofit partners, who then distribute it to their clients. According to Second Helpings, one out of every nine people in Atlanta, including one out of every seven children, does not have certainty about food access, yet one-third of available food is wasted every day. “We work to remedy this by getting the surplus to where it is needed. Our Food Rescue Network includes over 75 food donors, over 70 partner agencies, and over 300 volunteers,” says Andrea Jaron, executive director of the organization. “We rescued more than 3.6 million pounds of food from landfills in 2021, the equivalent of over three million meals. This was an 89 percent increase over 2020!” Jaron continues: “We can rescue 5 pounds of food for every donated dollar we receive. This is the equivalent of almost 4 meals. Yardi’s support will enable us to grow our network. We have the knowledge, expertise, and resources, and your financial support is critical to helping us rescue surplus food and deliver it to our neighbors who are in need.” Funds will help the organization meet its goals this year. “Our priorities this year are to bring food to areas in need that we are currently not serving,” said Jaron. “This will require us to recruit more volunteers, food donors, and partner agencies. This is a high priority given the rate of inflation and the already existing stresses on families because of the pandemic.”  How surplus food helps Among the partner agencies that distribute food collected by Second Helpings are local food banks. Here’s what one staff member there said about a recent donation which is pictured at right): “Just wanted you all to see how beautiful, bountiful and abundant the market looks today! Thanks to Second Helpings! It is a thing of beauty! Thank you all so much! If you told me six months ago the sight of fruit and vegetables would make me cry I would have thought you crazy! So grateful!” Another partner commented: “Thank you so much for your continued support for our youth and families in the communities we serve. You have been the strongest partner with our food distribution throughout the pandemic, before and after. You have allowed CHRIS 180 to provide needed meals to many who would not have had food to eat day to day, week to week. You and Second Helpings have been the guardian angels for so many across Atlanta. The greatest benefit for CHRIS 180 is that by providing the meals you donate; we can do wellness checks on the community to meet additional needs of them and their families. So again, thank you so much for always considering CHRIS 180 as a partner. We look forward to continuing this strong relationship between our organizations, delivering service to our communities.” Ways for Yardi Atlanta employees to help Yardi employees can become food rescue drivers for Second Helpings by going to the nonprofit’s website and clicking the volunteer button. There is a brief orientation, and then you will be matched to a route that is convenient or you can sign up for routes at a later date. Second Helpings also has a group volunteer activity at our warehouse at 970 Jefferson Street on the historic Westside. “We gather every Wednesday to pack 2000 meal kits. HelloFresh, the meal kit company, donates all of the ingredients, we...

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 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, let’s get to know kidSTREAM, a children’s museum under development in Camarillo, Calif. “We educate and inspire children allowing them to explore, play, and discover,” says Michael Shanklin, executive director, of the kidSTREAM mission. The organization has been working to open the museum since 2016 and hopes to do so by next year. “With the funds provided by the Yardi team, kidSTREAM has expanded our community access in significant ways. The investment by Yardi allowed us to develop STREAM Learning Kits in Spanish and English,” Shanklin said. “Our most recent kit which highlighted electrical circuits, motors, maker activities, and art were assembled by a group of community volunteers then distributed to farm working families in Oxnard.” The kits were also distributed to children involved in Ventura County Family Justice proceedings. “In addition to having the directions in Spanish and English, kidSTREAM filmed children volunteers who explained how to do each step in both Spanish and English by using a QR Code on the instructions. All kits were provided to the children at no cost to the family thanks to Yardi!,” Shanklin said. Meanwhile, work to open the museum continues. kidSTREAM is working to secure the museum building from the city of Camarillo, design exhibits hire staff and raise funds. “Our 2020-2023 Strategic Plan has five prioritized initiatives: 1. Open the Museum, 2. Be financially sustainable, 3. Establish community partnerships, 4. Create excellent programs and exhibits, and finally, 5. Become a community leader,” outlined Shanklin.  He singled out the support of Yardi and a longtime Yardi employee who has joined the kidSTREAM board. “We are humbled by the Yardi team’s generosity which has allowed us to provide meaningful STREAM kits so that ALL children can explore, play, and discover!  We are also thankful for our Yardi Board member, Wendy Acevedo-Solis, who has been instrumental in connecting us with local farmworker families,” Shanklin said. Volunteer opportunities in Southern California Yardi team members in SoCal, kidSTREAM needs help to assemble STREAM kits and distribute them to local families working in Ventura County agriculture.  Yardi teammates can connect with Michael Shanklin ([email protected] or 661-289-1369 cell) to arrange a time to help us help the community.   Learn more about kidSTREAM at https://kidstream.org/, and find future non-profit profiles at...

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 2021, Yardi offices supported more than 350 nonprofits worldwide. For the remainder of the year, we will be bringing you the stories of those organizations and insight into how they aid their communities. Today, we introduce you to Meals on Wheels of Wake County, which has served homebound elderly and persons with disabilities for almost 50 years. The Raleigh, NC organization will celebrate its half century anniversary in 2024. “The first meals were delivered in 1974, and 48 years later, we have delivered over 10 million meals to date. We are the only daily, home meal delivery program in the county,” said Mary Kate Keith, Director of Development and Communications. “Our program is specifically geared toward homebound seniors over 60 years of age, and other homebound persons with disabilities.” Over 1,500 dedicated volunteers deliver complete meals to homebound clients, while staff provides meals to Wake County residents in eight senior dining sites. Approximately 1,300 people receive a meal every weekday, and over 405,500 meals were served in fiscal year 2020/2021.  Meals on Wheels enhances the quality of the lives of participants with a daily, nutritious, hot meal that improves health and diet. Volunteers offer a daily check-up and visit that makes them feel safer in their homes.  “We also promote independent living which can prevent or delay a move to assisted living facilities and allow participants to stay in their homes with as much independence as their health allows. Without this service, a higher cost to taxpayers would result. The average cost for a nursing home is $240 per day,” said Keith. “Funds from Yardi have certainly helped our program. This past year we have experienced rising costs in food, transportation, and staffing. Our cost per meal has risen from $7 to almost $9 today.” Volunteer opportunities for Yardi Raleigh employees One of the current goals for Meals on Wheels of Wake County is to get back to pre-pandemic service levels.  “We need more volunteers, as many of our previous volunteers did not return,” explained Keith. “We are also working on opening our senior dining rooms, called Friendship Cafes. Currently seven of our original eight dining rooms are open and we hope to open the eighth this summer. Our number of clients is also continuing to rise, which is a good sign.” Yardi staff in the Raleigh area can sign up to donate their time as a group or individuals. Visit https://www.wakemow.org/corporate-partners to find out more information about volunteering as a corporate group.  “We have 12 meal pick-up sites located throughout Wake County to make volunteering convenient from any area. I would be happy to meet with the employees at their office to discuss the possibilities,” Keith said. Learn more about Meals on Wheels of Wake County at https://wakemow.org/, and find future non-profit profiles at...