Farbman Group
Company: Farbman Group, Southfield, MI
Entry Submitted By: Marx Layne & Company
Company Description: Founded in 1976, Farbman Group is a leading full-service real estate organization handling all facets of real estate transactions, from property management and leasing to acquisition and disposition.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year - Up to 2,500 Employees
Nomination Title: FARBMAN GROUP SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
1. Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved since January 1 2009 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
Farbman Group believes in being an integral part of the community in which it
does business. In 2009 alone, the company donated several hundred thousand
dollars and contributed more than 1,000 hours of community service to
Detroit-area nonprofit organizations and charities.
The company’s social responsibility plan is multi-faceted. The theme this past
year did focus largely on collecting goods for people in need, but saw company
employees lending their talents to projects in many different ways.
Farbman partnered with Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan to
celebrate “Christmas in January.” With one of the highest unemployment rates in
the nation, employees understood the plight of Michigan families. The company
management team and employees orchestrated a campaign to fill pantries of those
out of work and struggling to make ends meet beyond the holiday season. Farbman
reasoned that it was important to raise awareness of hunger as a year-round
challenge, not just a seasonal need.
On Wednesday, January 27, Farbman Group staffed its properties with volunteers
to help accept food donations. Working with Gleaners Community Food Bank,
employees collected donations during the workday. They utilized locations across
southeast Michigan to collect goods, allowing convenient drop-off locations for
donors, including locations in Southfield, Troy, Bingham Farms and Detroit.
The company waged a media and word of mouth campaign to increase awareness of
the needs of Gleaners and its quickly emptying pantries and let people know how
easy it would be to make a much needed contribution on January 27. To further
encourage donations, Farbman offered those who donated $5 or five items a chance
to enter to win a flat screen television set. In the end, Gleaners received
four trucks packed to the brim with goods like high-protein canned goods and
individually packaged healthy snacks for kids – the equivalent of 5,000 meals.
The company devoted its holiday party this year to Jimmy's Kids, a Royal
Oak-based charity that provides toys and clothing to children ages 4-11 who are
physically or emotionally challenged. Employees donated five new toys per person
to be admitted to the holiday bowling party. More than 200 toys were donated.
Farbman Group gathered food and dry goods to send to military men and women
overseas for the holidays by holding a friendly-competition between departments
to see which department could collect the most items on the soldier’s wish lists.
Employees also were active in the community in other ways throughout the year.
They volunteered with Beyond Basics to tutor Detroit children in reading and
writing and help students self-publish more than 5,000 books. Of the students
who participated in the tutoring program, 77 percent were able to advance to
grade-appropriate reading level or higher. Employees donated their time to
Habitat for Humanity or Karmanos Cancer Center’s ‘Race for the Cure’ events.
Farbman Group supports these initiatives and works with employees to allow time
off during the workday for community service.
2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
http://www.farbman.com/FG/Farbman%20Cares.html
http://www.youtube.com/farbmangroup
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/video/video-features/?media=7713932
http://www.topworkplaces.com/index.php/company/farbman-group_detroit
3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:
Founded in 1976, Farbman Group is a leading full-service real estate
organization handling all facets of real estate transactions, from property
management and leasing to acquisition and disposition. Today, Farbman Group
manages more than 20 million square feet of office, retail, multi-family and
industrial space throughout Southeast Michigan, is recognized as a leading
commercial management and brokerage firm by clientele and employs over 200 people.