Share This
Related Posts
Tags
Free Art Foundation
By Leah Etling on Jun 19, 2017 in People
Yardi employees Tom and Larissa Napoli are parents of a two-year-old daughter and work full time in Yardi’s San Diego office, and also manage to find
the time to fundraise for worthy causes.
Both Tom and Larissa work in support of Yardi’s Smart Energy Suite. Larissa is a team lead and Tom is a senior technical account manager.
Outside of work, Tom is the founder of the Free Art Foundation, a San Diego 501(c)3 organization that puts on art-focused events on behalf of organizations in need. Larissa, a talented artist herself, assists him with graphics and marketing.
“I had always wanted to start a charity focused on helping artists create art to sell for charitable causes,” Tom said. “When our daughter was born, she had complications and was in the NICU for 10 days. That experience did something to me that pushed me to focus on helping kids out any way that I can.”
Born with a hole in her lung, their little girl is now healthy and happy. But the passion for helping children in need remains. With a strong ability to connect with people and companies and create relationships, Tom decided to put those skills and energy to good use in his free time.
Previous beneficiaries have included Mama’s Kitchen of San Diego, which provides free food to patients living with AIDS and cancer, and the Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego.
This year, the Free Art Foundation is working to benefit StandUp for Kids, an established organization with San Diego roots that assists homeless youth. With the support of San Diego Harley Davidson, Tom arranged for donation of a motorcycle that will be raffled in support of the charity.
“Our organization was founded in 1990 by a group of volunteers in San Diego,” StandUp for Kids’ website explains. “Starting from a program in one city, StandUp for Kids has grown to sustain locations in 17 cities across 10 states and the District of Columbia. We remain a nearly all-volunteer organization that prioritizes the needs of the youth we serve. “
Napoli found out about StandUp for Kids from a unique organization called the 501st Legion. This all-volunteer group creates movie-quality Star Wars costumes and appears pro bono at charitable events around the country.
“They are really cool people from all walks of life who take time out to make these appearances,” said Napoli, who knows a few Legion participants. “They make their own costumers that are subject to the critique of the group, and Disney even hires them now for some events.”
So how does Free Art Foundation, StandUp for Kids, a Harley and the 501st Legion intersect? As the Free Art Foundation sells raffle tickets for the bike to benefit Standup for Kids, a local Legion member has offered to come along in full Storm Trooper regalia for photo opportunities.
“We’re hoping to raise $15,000,” Tom said. “This is a great cause, that helps homeless kids get off the street, and the money will go to clothing, food, shelter, and mentorship, which helps with counseling, medical and job placement needs.”
The Napolis are a great example of how Yardi employees are #EnergizedforGood.
