RISMEDIA, Nov. 16, 2007-Members of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial, Inc. company, joined Prudential Financial Inc.’s 12th annual Global Volunteer Day to give back through projects designed to better local communities.According to the company, since 1995, more than 250,000 volunteers have devoted more than 1.5 million hours to complete more than 6,800 projects around the globe. As part of this year’s Prudential Financial campaign, 32,000 volunteers completed about 800 projects in more than 12 countries.
One of many companies participating was Prudential California Realty, headquartered in San Diego with offices throughout Southern California and the Central Coast. It teamed up with the Surfrider Foundation for Coastal Cleanup Day as part of a major cleanup of the California coastline. More than 1,500 volunteers collected approximately 2,000 pounds of trash on beaches stretching 350 miles from San Diego to San Luis Obispo.
“Our cleanup efforts are our way of giving back to the communities in which we live, work and play, as well as provides an environmentally responsible example now and for the next generation,” said Steve Rodgers, president and CEO of Prudential California Realty. “We hope to build this into a long-term commitment to coastal beautification.”
Rodgers says protecting the environment fits with the business mission of the company on several different levels.
“Every day our sales professionals sell the natural beauty of Southern California,” he said. “Maintaining that beauty will build value in our communities.”
Prudential Dinning-Beard REALTORS® in Wichita, Kan., closed its four offices for the day so its employees could volunteer in their communities. More than 250 sales professionals helped on 32 different projects, including helping senior citizens repair their homes, delivering food for Meals on Wheels, donating blood, putting together treat bags for low-income school children and planting a garden, among other things. The company worked with the United Way and Senior Services League to organize the different efforts.
“We wanted to truly make a statement in our community. When the word got out on what we were doing, other companies partnered with us and provided materials,” said Mona Stein, co-owner, Prudential Dinning-Beard, REALTORS®. “I am without words to properly describe the pride I feel for our sales associates and staff with the way they rallied around this event.”
Prudential Arizona Properties’ Gold Canyon office developed a program called “Let’s Read Together.” Approximately 25 people read to children at Gold Canyon Elementary School.
“The children enjoyed the program so much that the school has asked us to come back and read on a monthly basis, and we are excited to do so,” said Lynda Smith, branch manager of the Prudential Arizona Properties Gold Canyon office.
For more information, visit www.prudential.com.
