Community Enhancement Service History
NAIOP’s Washington State Chapter has a long history of community involvement, dating back to the late 1980s. The chapter began fundraising for the Bellevue Community College Child Care Center in 1988 and the Leukemia Society Telethon a year later.
These two activities set the tone for NAIOP’s community outreach today. Hundreds of members raise money and provide volunteer labor for local projects - from children’s charities to environmental rehabilitation - that enhance the quality of life for the communities NAIOP serves. In addition, the chapter has provided scholarships for two students each year to attend Business Week, a program for high school students sponsored by the Association of Washington Business.
NAIOP seeks to raise between $10,000 and $200,000 per project, based on the type of project and the amount of in-kind donations received. In the past, projects have been funded through efforts such as NAIOP’s summer golf tournament and annual awards banquet. Members are generous donors, and are able to contribute directly through a recently formed 501(c)3 organization. With the creation of the foundation, NAIOP has a more stable financial base from which to begin projects, the opportunity to solicit support that is not project-specific, and the ability to support other scholarship activities.
NAIOP has received considerable attention for its generosity. The Washington State Chapter is the proud recipient of several national NAIOP “Community Enhancement Awards,” as well as a “Points of Light” Award from the Washington Society of Association Executives.
NAIOP Washington State Chapter community involvement includes:
1990 Eastside Friends of Youth – renovated a converted residence into a transitional housing facility for teen mothers
1991 Ryther Child Center – painted and repaired school facility including landscape areas of the school
1992 Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center – painted all buildings and renovated an office area for the agency
1993 Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center – painted and repaired buildings and performed landscaping
1994 The Source Child Center – painted, repaired buildings, built a shed, completely landscaped the grounds and built new play areas
1995 Thornton Creek – “daylighted” a salmon stream that had been diverted through culverts; created streambeds, plantings along the new bank, walkways, bridges and other landscaping of the area
1996 YMCA Camp Terry – extensive rehabilitation of cabins; painting; construction of picnic areas and bleachers; and creation of forest paths
1997 Northgate Elementary School – re-landscaped the entire school grounds, painted exterior of building, created new bus loading/unloading zone and created murals in the play area.
1998 Brighton Elementary School – removed asbestos and lead, repainted all exterior trim, removed and replaced entire landscaped area of the school
1999 Marymoor Park – Rehabilitated a 300-ft. section of the Sammamish River to create a salmon habitat, planted 3,000 native plants and performed some structural work
2000 T.T. Minor School – created an outdoor instructional environment area with native plants, planters, walkways and seating areas; painted and re-landscaped the entire exterior of the school; painted interior classrooms
2001 Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center – built seven shelter sheds for horses, replaced and/or rehabilitated 2,500 ft. of wooden fence, painted exterior of buildings and performed some landscaping
2002 Des Moines Beach Park – painted and repaired exterior of seven buildings, planted 750 ft. of creekfront to restore a salmon-spawning stream, built 600 feet of rail fence and three public viewing platforms over the stream
2003 The Girl Scouts Camp River Ranch - more than 300 volunteers completed painting of numerous buildings, widened existing hiking trails, and constructed seven new covered wagon sleeping structures
Kimbell Elementary School (special project) – installed new fixed benches and picnic tables; built outdoor teaching area
2004 Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center – installed new jogging path on seven-acre site, painted exterior of existing classrooms/buildings, installed new landscaped beds around perimeter, and refurbished basketball/tennis court.
Seattle Children’s Home (special project) – renovated existing “rewards” room with new flooring, paint, ceiling and art work
2005 The Happy Medium School – updated existing playground area, refinished portable classroom buildings and decks, refinished indoor play structures in classrooms, added paver patio for drop-off area, installed a “secret garden” to be used by the students to grow vegetables for the local food bank
Childhaven (special project) – removed existing rundown playground equipment and installed new playground equipment
2006 The Bailey Gatzert Elementary School – renovated exterior play areas, installed new paver walkways at school entrances, added new landscaping at existing planter beds, added retaining walls at playground area, resurfaced the existing asphalt playground, refurbished teaching garden with new planter boxes and renovated the existing baseball field
2007 Northgate Elementary School – installed new playground equipment along with new concrete curbs, added pavers paths at drop off areas, painted exterior of classroom building, built new fencing around playground, resurfaced playground areas (including new striping for basketball and tetherball courts), and added landscaping to planting beds
2008 Camp Long Environmental Learning Center - fabricated and installed new log benches for the fire ring, added a mile of new hiking trails, added landscaping improvements, installed a “secret garden” for teaching about insects and plants, refurbished the cabins and eating shelters and renovated the main welcoming center.
2009 Ryther Child Center – renovated the four cottages, including replacing damaged structure, exterior painting, new carpet/VCT in living areas, and landscaping at each of the four cottages. Installed a playground structures, added new fencing, created new trails, restored parking lot area, and landscaped throughout the site
2010 United Indians of All Tribes Foundation – helped UIATF celebrate its 40th anniversary with a renovation of the main building (restored exterior wood siding, doors, and structure back to its original state.) Added out buildings at sweat lodge and shrine including concrete stairs, exterior deck look-out, site lighting, landscaping and split rail fence; and renovated existing trail systems.
2011 The Community Enhancement Committee's project for 2011 was Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Redmond. Little Bit has had a facility in Woodinville for many years, and it had recently acquired a site in Redmond that would allow them to double their ability serve disabled kids and adults. But it needed work! The committee spent nearly a year planning the various projects and acquiring cash donations and in-kind contributions. In September 2011 more than 300 volunteers made the buildings and grounds ready to accept horses, riders and volunteers, including structural upgrades, painting, landscaping and general clean up.
2012 Last year's project was the Center for Urban Horticulture at the University of Washington's Botanic Gardens. After months of planning by the Community Enhancement Committee, along with fundraising and finding in-kind donations, more than 200 volunteers accomplished tasks beyond the capability of the center's staff and budget. Gardens were refreshed, new hoop houses were built, sheds were upgraded and painted, wet beds rehabbed, and a 3/4-mile trail re-graveled. The most transformational change was building stairs from the upper level to the lower lawn, greatly enhancing the usefulness of the facility.
