As we reflect on another remarkable year of community service, Dweck Properties proudly celebrates the continued success of our Dwecksters Doing Good initiative. This program, which aligns with our core values of Do What Matters and Take Care, empowers our team members to make meaningful contributions to the communities we serve. Through our commitment of eight hours of paid time off annually for each team member and pre-coordinated volunteer opportunities each month, we’ve created countless moments of positive impact throughout 2024.

This year, our monthly volunteer opportunities have spanned diverse causes, from food security to environmental conservation and animal welfare to education. Here’s a look at how our team members have made a difference:

January | Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s National Day of Service, our team members volunteered at the Arlington Food Assistance Center on January 17th. Working at AFAC’s warehouse on S. Nelson Street in Arlington, our volunteers helped bag and sort food, contributing to AFAC’s mission of feeding our neighbors in need. “This volunteer experience gave me a sense of purpose and satisfaction to be able to help those in need prepare for their next meal,” reflects Katrina Clark, who helped sort food and check expiration dates. “I also enjoyed the opportunity to interact with new people who share some of the same interests. It was a wonderful experience.”

February | Capital Area Food Bank

February found our team at the Capital Area Food Bank, an organization that provides more than 50 million meals annually to almost half a million area residents. Dweck volunteers assisted in sorting and packing donated food items for community distribution. Working alongside the food bank’s network of 400 nonprofit organizations, our team contributed to their mission of addressing hunger through both immediate assistance and long-term solutions. “This experience was very impactful,” shares Brandi Stacy, who helped pack and sort food donations. “I love a chance to give back when I can and have the opportunity. Especially when you are surrounded by others who feel the same of giving back to others, it is really inspiring.”

March | Women Giving Back, Red Nose Day and Martha’s Table

At Women Giving Back, our volunteers sorted, hung, and boxed clothing items, supporting women and children in crisis. The organization’s mission of providing quality clothing at no cost aligns perfectly with our value of taking care of our community, and Dweck even hosted an additional clothing drive to support their efforts. “This experience was truly meaningful,” reflects Sergi Cardoza. “We never know what others are going through, and witnessing women come in to shop while we were working made me feel like we were making a small but significant difference.”

Our team also participated in Red Nose Day, with over 300 Dwecksters wearing red noses to raise funds for programs supporting children’s futures through food, housing, and other essential services. For Red Nose Day, Sabrina Leckemby explains the impact: “Having the ability to positively impact children’s lives means less poverty, and more childhood, and assists with removing barriers to enable kids to become their best selves.”

Additionally, our Operations Team volunteered at Martha’s Table’s Joyful Market event at Turner Elementary School in Southeast Washington, DC. They helped prepare and package produce for mobile food delivery service, and were present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the school’s new Resource Center. The Martha’s Table initiative left a lasting impression on Peter Brosnan: “It meant a lot, especially seeing the families come through the market towards the end of the day, and seeing how appreciative they were. It’s always eye-opening to step outside of your little ‘bubble’ and see how other people and other communities are living.”

April | Upton Hill Regional Park and Melwood

In honor of Earth Day, our April activities focused on environmental stewardship. At Upton Hill Regional Park, volunteers focused on environmental restoration. “We spent the day gloved up with shovels and pickaxes to cleanse Upton Park of non-native plants,” explains Jacob Woodard. “Removing non-native plants helps restore the ecosystem’s delicate balance to promote native species growth. This is essential for pollination, pest control, and nutrient cycling! Save the bees!”

At Melwood, our teams contributed to facility beautification. “During this day of service, we helped with gardening throughout the facility grounds,” shares Maddy Guillermo. “It was tough work but very rewarding when we finished! I pictured what this would look like had we or other volunteers not helped, and it was awesome to know that we could pitch in and contribute with our grain of salt!”

May | I Support The Girls

May saw our team partnering with I Support the Girls, an organization dedicated to providing essential items to women experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, or distress. Our volunteers assisted with opening packages, sorting and counting donations of bras, underwear, and menstrual hygiene products, and writing thank you notes – helping the organization maintain dignity for women in need. Our volunteers’ impact went beyond organizing supplies. “It was a wonderful experience knowing that I could participate in a worthy cause,” reflects Carolyn Washington. Yolanda Lee adds, “I learned about the organization while watching the local news. It reminds me that we take for granted how the lack of basic needs can impact a person…things like having access to enough sanitary products or having a bra that fits well or having a bra at all. I was honored to be able to help just a little.”

June | Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture at the Arlington House Kitchen Garden and Arlington Pride

In June, our volunteers worked with Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture at the Arlington House Kitchen Garden, a quarter-acre Plot Against Hunger site located within Arlington National Cemetery. “We helped prepare garden beds for the upcoming growing season,” shares Jeffery Mullins. “Collectively working to improve the garden reminded us all how important it is to have access to fresh produce, and allowed us the opportunity to learn more about the work that FOUA does in educating and providing food access to those in need.” Team members participated in planting, weeding, watering, building trellises, and harvesting produce that gets donated to Arlington County food pantries.

Additionally, Dwecksters showed their support for the LGBTQIA+ community by joining Arlington Pride at Water Park at National Landing for their Pride Month Kick-Off Block Party. The group joined in on the celebrations around the culture, history, and diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community that lives, works, and plays in one of Arlington’s most colorful and vibrant communities.

July | Red Cross

We hosted a Red Cross blood drive at Crystal Towers in July. Our team members had the opportunity to make a life-saving impact, with each donation having the potential to help multiple individuals in need. “I donated blood to the Red Cross and met with the wonderful nursing team,” shares Sergio Rivera. “Myself along with a group of Dwecksters felt a great sense of fulfillment knowing our contribution could help save lives. It was a rewarding experience that I would encourage others to donate any chance they have.”

August | PathForward and a #BackToSchool Drive

August brought two meaningful initiatives. At PathForward, our volunteers served meals, organized the clothing closet, and managed inventory of donations and supplies, supporting the organization’s mission to empower those experiencing homelessness to build lasting stability. At PathForward, volunteers focused on practical support. “I assisted the charity by organizing shoes and clothing so it is easy for everyone to locate specific sizes,” explains Kristy Curler. “A positive contribution to society benefits everyone.”

Our Sazón Latino and Dweck Moms Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) also led a company-wide Back to School drive, collecting backpacks, school supplies, and classroom essentials for Occoquan and Baileys Elementary Schools. This initiative particularly supported students and families at schools with predominantly Hispanic student populations just down the road from a few of our Dweck communities.

September | Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation and Shelter House

September featured two impactful volunteer opportunities. At Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation, our team walked dogs, organized donations, and assisted with housekeeping tasks. Volunteers also contributed to the shelter’s supply drive, supporting their mission of animal welfare. “We cleaned up a large bed of weeds and added wood chips to the walkway,” shares Josh DiDonato. “I valued the small conversations I had with other Dwecksters while being outside on a nice day.” Justin Koep, who helped with both landscaping and animal care, adds, “It was great to get out and go make a difference somewhere that relies fully on the helping hands of volunteers! They are always in need of more help and it made the work we did there so much more meaningful.”

Also in September, the Dweck Moms ERG organized a volunteer event at the Patrick Henry Family Shelter, part of the Shelter House organization, where team members worked together to spruce up the playground, sort donations, and clean shared spaces. This marks the second year of collaboration with Shelter House, reinforcing our commitment to supporting housing services in the community. Reflecting on the experience, Sarah Cahill shared, “Nine incredible Dwecksters stepped up to clear storage areas, refresh the playground, and tidy up high-touch surfaces throughout the shelter. I feel truly honored to contribute to such an important mission for a second year and am grateful to help make a difference.”

October | Strides Against Breast Cancer

Our team participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Walk at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. This event celebrated hope while raising crucial funds for breast cancer awareness and research, embodying our values to Do What Matters and Take Care. “I was feeling nervous about walking,” admits Wanda Johnson about her first Dwecksters Doing Good event. “However, after some encouragement from my colleagues and with the beautiful weather and route, it turned out to be such a rewarding experience! It was nice to get a more intimate opportunity to talk to some of my colleagues that I only email and haven’t met.”

November | Denim for D.A.S.H and Arlington Food Assistance Center

In November, we supported two impactful initiatives. The first was our annual Denim for D.A.S.H. campaign, where team members could wear jeans to work in exchange for donations to the District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH), which provides vital support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in DC. “Denim for DASH at Dweck is a day when we trade business attire for denim, symbolizing our commitment to DASH’s mission,” says Sabrina Leckemby. “Their work offers a fresh start to those who need it most. While Dweck Properties and DASH operate in different spheres, we share a deep commitment to caring for people in our communities.”

We also returned to the Arlington Food Assistance Center, where volunteers helped bag and sort food in their warehouse, continuing our year-round commitment to fighting food insecurity in our community.

December | Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringers

In December, our team members participated in two different opportunities to raise donations for the Salvation Army via their annual Red Kettle Campaign. All donations received stay local, directly impacting the lives of our neighbors by helping them in their time of need through social services assistance, homeless shelters, disaster relief, children’s programs, rehabilitation services, anti-human trafficking, and more.  “I enjoy the experience of seeing how generous others are towards those in need,” says Diane Bogyova. “Often times, we get so wrapped up in our lives that we forget there are those who are worse off and could use a little extra help during the holiday season.”

As we approach the end of the year, we reflect on the tremendous impact our team members have made throughout 2024. From feeding our neighbors to supporting education, from environmental conservation to animal welfare, Dwecksters have demonstrated that when we come together with purpose, we can create meaningful change in our communities.

The success of Dwecksters Doing Good reflects not just our company’s commitment to community service but the genuine desire of our team members to make a difference. As we look forward to 2025, we remain dedicated to expanding our impact and finding new ways to support the communities we serve.