Highlandtown Elementary and Middle School Adopt-A-Wish Program
This holiday season, COPT employees and their family members contributed 224 gifts (nearly double the number donated in 2009) and $460 through a COPT Giving Tree program to provide gifts for 315 students at Highlandtown Elementary and Middle Schools.
Race for the Cure Funds raised by Susan G. Komen's Maryland Race for the Cure fund a comprehensive range of breast health services in Maryland as well as national research where the cures for breast cancer will be found. Last year TEAM COPT raised more than $9,000 to help find a cure.
COPT Cares Fridays -- Jeans for a Cause
COPT employees have an opportunity, on a monthly basis, to wear jeans on the last Friday of the month by making a minimum contribution to a selected charity. Employees nominate charities to receive the donations and the company matches the employee contributions, up to a maximum of $1,000 per organization. Organizations which have benefited from COPT Cares Fridays in 2010 include Doctors Without Borders (Haitian relief), Alabama Coastal Foundation, food banks in Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, Sarah's House, One Mountain Foundation, We Care and Friends, and others.
Day of Service - Donate 8
Putting our money where our mouth is, COPT added a new benefit for all benefits-eligible employees, whereby employees may take up to eight hours of paid time to participate in volunteer and charitable activities.
In 2010, 239 COPT employees used their paid Day of Service hours to improve the lives of others. That's 1,909 hours of time spent reaching out and helping others in our communities. Through the program, employees have contributed to Habitat for Humanity, Anne Arundel County Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Kennedy Krieger Institute and numerous other organizations.
United Way Campaign
Since 2001, COPT has raised over $445,000 for the United Way of Central Maryland. Donations are allocated to community impact partners that focus on providing basic needs to the less fortunate, preparing our children to begin learning and stay in school, and helping to stop the domestic violence cycle. Each year, an average of 50% of our employees donate $365 per year to the United Way. During 2010’s one-month campaign, COPT employees pledged more than $105,000 (includng company matches of first time donor contributions) at a 63% participation rate.
In 2009, COPT was presented by the United Way of Central Maryland with both the "Stellar Growth Award" (presented to organizations that achieve growth in donors and dollars - COPT has grown its campaign an average of 38% over the past several years) and the "Spirit of the Community Award" (presented to a company that exhibits creativity, special events, participation, leadership, volunteerism, community impact support and year-round awareness).
COPT Cancer Awareness Month
Initiated by a group of employees, COPT Cancer Awareness Month (October) was conceived to raise awareness about the risks and symptoms of common and devastating cancers, as well as to raise money. This past October, COPT employees contributed a total $5,430 to six beneficiary organizations. The initiative has raised over $21,000 over the past four years, all of which supports new research and education to prevent, and hopefully cure, cancer.
NAIOP Maryland Community Service Project
Each year, a number of COPT employees join other commercial real estate professionals in a community service project for NAIOP-Maryland. Volunteers spent the day building in the neighborhood of 75 picnic tables which are given to a selected department of parks and recreation each year.
Grassroots Howard County
When Grassroots of Howard County, a crisis intervention center, moved into their new space, COPT contributed all of the office furniture, built-ins and countertops, which it salvaged from vacating tenant spaces. COPT also assisted Grassroots' staff in obtaining substantial discounts for carpeting, flooring and installation. Their 25,000 square foot facility contains office space as well as residential spaces for 50 homeless people
Daffodil Days
Daffodil Days is an annual program hosted by the American Cancer Society to raise money for the fight against cancer by selling daffodils. Last year, COPT purchased 200 bunches of daffodils and the White Marsh team hand-delivered them to each of our White Marsh tenants. The COPT team binds the daffodils in tissue paper and inserts our Daffodil Days tent card with an inspiring quote and sentiment of appreciation for our tenants.
