Commerce Communique'

Seven Utah Title 1 Schools Benefit from Commerce Real Estate Solutions’ School Supply Drive Competition

SALT LAKE CITY—August 23, 2011—Agents and staff in Commerce Real Estate Solutions’ Utah offices and divisions competed against each other during the past five weeks to collect supplies for seven Title 1 schools.

The firm’s School Supply Drive Competition grossed 3,156 much needed items to be shared among the seven schools, such as crayons, glue sticks, pencils, sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer. Each agent and staff member spent their own money to purchase the supplies that will be delivered just in time for teachers and students to start the school year.

“We have had so much fun competing with each other to collect these school supplies for our nearby schools,” said Michael Lawson, President and CEO of Commerce Real Estate Solutions. “The Title 1 federal funding these schools receive does not include appropriations for supplies and we frequently hear of teachers and administrators purchasing supplies for their students out of their own pockets. We hope to alleviate this by what we have been able to provide through our internal supply drive.”

The supplies will be distributed to the following seven schools, which are located near Commerce Real Estate Solutions’ offices.

• In Salt Lake City—Washington, Lincoln, and Mountain View Elementary Schools and Glendale Middle School.
• Other Utah schools include: Wasatch Elementary of Clearfield, Trailside Elementary of Park City, and Sandstone School of St. George.

Commerce Real Estate Solutions brokers and employees also collected rulers, construction paper, newspapers, wide ruled paper, lined paper, spiral notebooks, colored pencils, pencil tip erasers, kid scissors, fine point sharpie markers and backpacks.

October 2009: Utah Food Bank, Staff VS Agents

Throughout the month of October, the Salt Lake Commerce office had a friendly competition, staff vs agents. The goal...which group could donate the most food to the Utah Food Bank. It was a close call, too close to name a winner. A huge thanks to everyone who donated canned goods as well as monetarily.

September 2009: United Way Day of Caring, Boys & Girls Club

On Thursday, September 10, 2009 a group from Commerce CRG took part in the United Way Day of Caring by painting the interior of the Boys & Girls Club of Sugar House. "The United Way Day of Caring is a wonderful way to improve our community through service. It is also the best way to get a firsthand look at the needs in our community. Last year nearly 2,600 volunteers from local companies worked on 151 service projects. I'm sure those numbers were surpassed this year."

August 2009: Equality Utah's 8th Annual Allies Dinner

On Wednesday, August 19, a group from Commerce CRG attended the Equality Utah's 8th Annual Allies Dinner. This dinner benefits Equality Utah's Political Action Committee, which "endorses candidates and supports their campaigns with volunteer efforts and financial contributions. Through the efforts of Equality Utah PAC, we are working to expand the number of fair-minded elected officials in state and local government."

July 2009: Bees Game With Our Veterans

On Monday, July 27, 2009 a group from Commerce CRG spent the evening at a Bees game with 11 of our nation's veterans from the VA Nursing Home. Everyone had an enjoyable evening cheering, watching the game and spending one-on-one time with each other. We would like to thank Spring Mobile Ball Park for their generous donation of tickets. To volunteer at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City, visit http://www.saltlakecity.va.gov/volunteer.asp.

June 2009: Commerce CRG Volunteers at the Utah Arts Festival

On Thursday, June 25, 2009 a group from Commerce CRG volunteered at the 33^rd Annual Utah Arts Festival, pouring and serving beverages and greeting people to the festival. “The mission of the Utah Arts Festival Foundation, Inc. is to produce the annual Utah Arts Festival, for the purpose of promoting the arts and enhancing the quality of life in Utah.” Internationally and nationally know, the four day festival is a great kick off to the summer in Utah.

May 2009: Commerce CRG Canines Strut Their Mutts

 

On Saturday, May 30, 2009 a group from Commerce CRG formed the “Commerce CRG Canines Dog Pack” for the 14^th Annual Strut Your Mutt, a dog walk and festival to raise awareness and funds for No More Homeless Pets in Utah. The mission of No More Homeless Pets in Utah “is to end the euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats statewide and promote humane alternatives for feral cats. When No More Homeless Pets in Utah started in 2000, 46,000 animals were euthanized each year in Utah shelters. Now, eight years later, that number has dropped to 33,000.”

Commerce CRG forming a "Dog Pack" for the 2009 Strut Your Mutt

April 2009: Utah Food Bank

On Wednesday, April 29 a group from Commerce CRG sorted food and built orders at the Utah Food Bank, which will be shipped to over 240 programs and agencies statewide. “Since 1904, Utah Food Bank Services has been dedicated to building stronger communities by providing programs and services that address the immediate needs of low-income individuals and families. In fiscal year 2008, Utah Food Bank Services collected and distributed more than 19.2 million pounds of food throughout Utah” (Utah Food Bank Brief Organization Summary). 

March 2009: Ronald McDonald House

On Sunday, March 29 a group from Commerce CRG prepared and served dinner at the Ronald McDonald House for 40 individuals. Families who stay at the Ronald McDonald House come from all over the country and world to Primary Children’s Medical Center, Shriners Hospital for Children and the University of Utah Medical Center for treatment and care. Majority of the time the treatment and care is for extended periods of time. The Ronald McDonald House is a place for families to stay.