Close to 70 CoreNet Houston members recently donated their Saturday to make meaningful improvements to the Men’s Development Center, a Star of Hope facility providing shelter and services to homeless men in Houston. With the leadership of committee chair, Regina Trippie, and vice-chair, Alison Kuttler, the project raised $13,000 in cash and in-kind donations. CoreNet volunteers painted two floors of the building, created a new garden area and painted a mural.

“Star of Hope is very grateful CoreNet selected our Men’s Development Center as the site for their annual Community Reinvestment project and for the opportunity to partner with the fantastic CoreNet volunteers,” said Elizabeth Hatler, manager of volunteer services for Star of Hope. “CoreNET’s leadership did an awesome job planning the projects and their entire volunteer team was hardworking and enthusiastic. It is obvious that CoreNet volunteers have a heart for those who are less fortunate and want to make a lasting difference in our community and the lives of others. Through their service and generous financial gift, CoreNet members touched the lives of homeless men in a very special way, giving them renewed hope for a better tomorrow.”

Annually, CoreNet identifies a community project in the Houston area as the recipient of the organization’s volunteer community reinvestment initiative. CoreNet Houston’s member companies and individuals donate their expertise, time and funds to one community project each year. Over the past 11 years CoreNet’s Community Reinvestment program has contributed more than $300,000 in cash and inkind donations to numerous community projects within the Houston area.

“It is very gratifying to see CoreNet members give back to the Houston community in a really meaningful, tangible way,” stated Trippie. “By combining cash donations, in-kind services, and good old hard work, we were able to transform the Men’s Development Center and make a difference in the community."

The work would not be possible without the generosity of CoreNet’s Community Reinvestment Challenge sponsors:

- Association Management Consultants

- ARC Document Solutions

- ARVO Realty Advisors

- Clear Choice Office Solutions

- Duplantis Design Group

- Gensler

- D.E. Harvey Builders

- Herman Miller

- Humanscale

- JE Dunn Construction

- i.e.Smart Systems

- Jones Lang LaSalle

- Bill Malone

- Office Pavilion

- Page

- PDR Corporation

- PPG Paints

- Sherwin Williams

- Southwest Solutions Group

- Teknion

- Workplace Solutions

- Ziegler Cooper Architects

About CoreNet Houston: CoreNet Global is the premier international association for corporate real estate professionals convening the entire industry. The mission of the Houston Chapter is to connect groups of professionals, end users and service providers in order to advance knowledge, promote personal excellence and add value to each individual and their respective enterprise by offering a variety of diversified programs that provide members educational and networking opportunities.

About Men’s Development Center: Star of Hope’s Men’s Development Center (MDC) houses more than 300 men nightly and provides emergency and residential programs. The goal of the MDC is to help clients achieve success in the areas of substance abuse recovery, literacy, education, life management skills, career development, and ultimately, a responsible, independent life-style.