Category: Davis Difference

At Davis we’re accustomed to developing spaces where people and communities can thrive, and this fall we channeled that energy into building something new: educational foundations for local students. According to the United Way, 1 in 10 students return to school each year without a backpack and adequate school supplies. In fact, in the Greater Twin Cities area alone, more than 100,000 students enter school empty-handed, arriving without even the most basic educational items.

For many families, back-to-school necessities bring significant financial stress as raising children today is more challenging than ever before. In the Twin Cities metro area, the cost of raising a child now averages over $30,000 annually—a figure that includes childcare, housing, food, medical expenses, and transportation. With childcare alone costing nearly $19,000 per year per child in the Minneapolis metro, families are facing unprecedented financial pressure so any additional expense, even school supplies, becomes a genuine burden.

At Davis we understand that strong foundations are essential for any building project. This is also true for children being developed into life-long learners. When a child walks into the classroom with the supplies they need, they’re prepared to do more than just learn; They’re also equipped with the dignity and confidence necessary to cultivate positive peer relationships and feel like they belong. So we decided to team up and make a difference.

Our team purchased enough school supplies to create back-to-school kits for 30 local students, packing everything from #2 pencils, markers and crayons to college ruled notebooks and scientific calculators. As our team generated each kit, we reflected on the impact our efforts would have on individual students and their families.

This experience reinforced our belief that being the change we wish to see requires more than good intentions—it demands action. By researching the need, investing our resources, and dedicating our time, we demonstrated our commitment to supporting vulnerable populations in our community; That’s the #DavisDifference.

Looking Forward

Our school supplies drive reminded us that meaningful change happens when we move beyond awareness to action. It’s one thing to understand that 10% of our local students lack adequate school supplies, but it’s another to roll up our sleeves and choose to do something about it. The Greater Twin Cities United Way has spent generations bringing together people who believe in creating a community where all people thrive, regardless of income, race, or place. Our school supplies drive was just one small part of that larger mission, but it was our part—and it made a difference.

How You Can Help

If this story motivates you to make a difference, please know the United Way offers many ways to get involved and would love your support. Here are just a few ideas:

• Volunteer with United Way: Whether joining an in-person Action Day event or opting to champion an initiative from home, the United Way offers numerous year-round opportunities to support your local community!
  
  
• Organize a Drive: Rally your workplace, neighborhood, or social group to collect supplies or funds that support local causes that interest you.
  
  
• Make a Financial Contribution: Your donation to the United Way helps support a range of initiatives that address critical community needs. Every dollar matters!
  
  
• Help Spread Awareness: Share information about volunteer opportunities you come across with your network. Many people want to help but simply don’t know how significant the need is or where to start.

To learn more about these impactful volunteer opportunities, visit the volunteer page of the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s website at https://www.gtcuw.org/volunteer/.

This past Earth Day marked a significant stride in environmental stewardship, as tenants across 22 Class A medical buildings partnered to collect over 9,000 pounds of electronic waste (e-waste). The overwhelming success of this initiative highlights a growing commitment within the medical community to sustainable practices and responsible disposal of electronic devices. 

Collection bins quickly filled with everything from outdated essential office equipment to microwaves, reflecting the variety of devices we accumulate over time.

“We are incredibly proud of the widespread participation and dedication shown by our medical tenants,” stated Peggy Schatz, Senior Vice President – Property Management. “Exceeding 9,000 pounds of e-waste collected is a powerful test.”

Minnesota’s Stance on E-Waste: Protecting Our Local Environment

Minnesota has been proactive in addressing the e-waste challenge, recognizing its direct impact on our local ecosystems and public health. The state prohibits the disposal of certain electronic products, like televisions and computer monitors, with household trash, a ban that went into effect in 2006. Further, the Minnesota Electronics Recycling Act (MERA), enacted in 2007, places responsibility on manufacturers of video display devices (VDDs) to fund and support the collection and recycling of covered electronic devices (CEDs) from households.

Current legislative proposals, such as Senator Rob Kupec’s SF 1690, aim to strengthen these efforts by creating a free, statewide e-waste disposal system, shifting the financial burden from consumers and local governments to producers. This is crucial given that Minnesota generates an estimated 266 million pounds of e-waste annually, with only about 24% currently captured for recycling. Unrecycled e-waste not only leaches heavy metals like lead and mercury into groundwater, contaminating our drinking water and soil, but also represents a loss of valuable materials, estimated to be worth up to $3.2 billion in critical minerals and metals. Batteries, when improperly disposed of, have also been a significant cause of fires in landfills and recycling facilities.

The Global Ripple Effect: Where Our E-Waste Ends Up

While responsible recycling in Minnesota helps mitigate local risks, the global e-waste problem extends far beyond our borders. The majority of e-waste generated worldwide, a staggering 62 million tons in 2022 (enough to fill 1.5 million transport trucks), is not formally collected or recycled. A significant portion of this unmanaged e-waste often ends up in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in informal recycling sectors.

In these regions, desperate economic circumstances lead to hazardous practices like:

Open-air burning: To recover valuable metals like copper, workers often burn plastic coatings off wires and circuit boards. This releases a cocktail of highly toxic chemicals, including dioxins, furans, lead, mercury, and cadmium, into the air. These pollutants travel far, contaminating air, soil, and water, and exposing entire communities to severe health risks.

Acid leaching and crude dismantling: Workers, often without protective gear, use strong acids to extract precious metals, discharging contaminated wastewater directly into rivers and groundwater. Manual dismantling exposes them to direct contact with heavy metals and other harmful substances, leading to skin rashes, lung damage, and neurological issues.

The consequences for these vulnerable communities are devastating. Children, often involved in these dangerous activities, are particularly susceptible to developmental delays, neurological damage, and respiratory illnesses. Contaminated soil and water sources lead to long-term health problems, impacting everything from fertility to increased cancer risks. These informal practices not only pollute local environments but also contribute to global climate change through the release of potent greenhouse gases and persistent organic pollutants.

By participating in responsible e-waste collection programs like the one hosted by Davis to the benefit of its medical tenants, we contribute to a vital global solution. It ensures that valuable materials are recovered, hazardous substances are managed safely, and the burden of our discarded electronics does not fall disproportionately on communities already facing environmental and social challenges.  The success of this Earth Day e-waste drive serves as a powerful reminder of how collective action, driven by local responsibility and global awareness, can make a substantial positive impact.

The Davis Property Management team recently demonstrated the #DavisDifference by participating in the Ronald McDonald House Charities’ (RMHC) “Cooks for Kids” program, preparing and serving meals to families facing challenging hospital stays.

Supporting Families During Difficult Times

Ronald McDonald House Charities operates five locations across Minnesota, providing critical support to families with children receiving medical care. These facilities can host over 70 families each night and serve several hundred family members each day, offering much more than just a place to stay. Families receive warm meals, laundry services, respite spaces, childcare, K-12 schooling services, and a variety of supportive programming during what are often lengthy and emotionally taxing hospital stays.

The five RMHC locations partner with four children’s hospitals across the Twin Cities and Duluth, including MHealth Fairview Masonic, Children’s and Gillette Children’s, and Essentia Health, creating a comprehensive support network for families in medical crisis.

The Power of Volunteer Service

The Ronald McDonald House relies heavily on volunteers and donations to prepare and serve two meals daily to resident families. These volunteer opportunities not only nourish the families staying at the facilities but also create powerful team-building experiences for the volunteers themselves.

“The process of both preparing and serving meals for the families staying on campus was humbling and rewarding,” said Davis team member Alicia Schaeffer who helped coordinate the Davis volunteer effort. “These families are going through incredibly difficult and challenging situations. Through the Cooks for Kids program, meal time becomes one less thing they need to manage. Plus, meals made with love always taste a little better. We are wholly grateful for the opportunity to serve these brave kiddos and their families.”

Globally, RMHC programs are supported by more than 281,200 volunteers who dedicate their time, talent, and resources. These volunteers truly are the heartbeat of RMHC, helping to offset operational costs and allowing the charity to direct more donations directly to services supporting children and their families.

The Impact of Davis’s Contribution

For the Davis Property Management team, participating in the Cooks for Kids program aligned perfectly with the company’s commitment to community involvement and making a difference beyond their professional services.

“At Davis, we believe in being more than just a healthcare real estate company,” said Peggy Schatz, Vice President of Property Management. “Our team members are dedicated to improving the communities where we live and work, and programs like Cooks for Kids allow us to make a direct, positive impact on families facing difficult circumstances.”

The team’s volunteer effort exemplifies the #DavisDifference—a commitment to excellence, compassion, and community support that extends beyond business operations and into meaningful service that touches lives when they need it most.

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For those interested in volunteering with Ronald McDonald House Charities, use this link to learn more about the Cooks for Kids program and other volunteer opportunities: https://rmhc-uppermidwest.org/CooksforKids/index.html

In line with our commitment to drive positive change through the Davis Difference, our team united for a volunteer effort at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). FMSC, a nonprofit, depends on donations to cover meal ingredients and relies on volunteer teams to pack these meals by hand. Collaboratively, the Davis team packed an impressive 10,356 meals, destined to reach families in need around the globe.

FMSC believes hope starts with food, which is why this organization works tirelessly with its network of food distribution partners to serve its mission of feeding children and saving lives all across the globe. FMSC’s impact extends beyond immediate relief; they remain committed to communities for the long term, empowering them to transition from dependency to stability. Additionally, all distributed meals are developed by food science and nutrition professionals to supplement nutritional needs and reduce common problems associated with malnutrition.

Davis places immense value on supporting nonprofits like FMSC. It is heartbreaking to learn that every year millions of children die from preventable causes. By our estimate, at least 6,200 children die each day from ailments directly related to starvation and/or undernutrition. We encourage anyone touched by this post to rally their own team of volunteers and set up a time to make a difference. Making a difference may require a village, but when we unite, lasting change is not just a goal; it’s the beginning of a transformative journey.

How to Help

www.fmsc.org

Volunteer Your Time: Become a part of the change! Sign up for a volunteering session at FMSC. Your hands-on help makes a direct impact on packing and distributing meals.

Donate Financially: Contribute to the cause by making a financial donation. Your support helps fund essential meal ingredients and sustains FMSC’s mission to fight global hunger.

Spread the Word: Awareness is key! Share FMSC’s mission on your social media platforms. Encourage friends and family to get involved and make a difference.

Organize a Fundraiser: Host a fundraiser to support FMSC. Whether it’s a virtual event, a charity run, or a bake sale, every contribution adds up to help those in need.

Corporate Partnerships: If you represent a company, consider establishing a corporate partnership with FMSC. Collaborative efforts can magnify the impact and contribute to long-term solutions.

Advocate for Change: Use your voice to advocate for policies and initiatives that address global hunger. Engage with your local representatives to promote awareness and support for the cause.

Attend FMSC Events: Stay connected with FMSC by attending their events. Whether virtual or in-person, these events provide opportunities to learn more, connect with like-minded individuals, and further support the cause.

We are excited to share a story that exemplifies the spirit of community and the Davis Difference. The Davis Team is committed to volunteering our time and talents throughout the year. This fall, Davis connected again with Hearts & Hammers, an organization close to our hearts. Hearts & Hammers is an organization committed to providing exterior home improvement assistance for Senior Citizens, Disabled Individuals, and Veterans of the United States Armed Forces or their Surviving Spouse so that they may continue living independently.

Our story involves an incredible 50-year-old woman in Brooklyn Center. This resilient mother has faced her fair share of challenges, especially after a stroke left her physically limited. Despite her determination to repair the home herself, the past few years have been a tough journey filled with medical hardships and the pressing need for home repairs. Her lawn was overgrown, and the house needed new paint. Looking for resources to help, she contacted Hearts & Hammers. We were presented with her story through our previous affiliation with the program and immediately began compiling resources and volunteers to help.

Davis reached out to our trusted partners, Timco Construction and Synergy Architecture Studio, and we were thrilled to have them on board. We had one day to complete our makeover and we were bound and determined to bring this home back to life. The exterior of the house and garage were cleaned and painted grey to match the other houses in the neighborhood. The homeowner’s vision was to ensure that her house harmoniously matched the charming character of her community.

While one dedicated crew was hard at work transforming the home’s exterior, another crew took on the landscaping challenge. The crew tackled the overgrown branches and weeds that had taken over every side of the home and garage. Once that was completed, their focus shifted to the front of the home. Two rows adjacent to the front sidewalk received special attention. The team meticulously cleared and prepared the area. They planted vibrant flowers and added a fresh layer of mulch, all in preparation for the upcoming fall season.

The finished makeover was met with overflowing gratitude and literal tears of joy. This service project enabled us to witness together the incredible impact of teamwork, and perseverance. This wasn’t just a house makeover; it was a profound gesture of community. As we witnessed the incredible impact of volunteers, we were reminded that small actions can have a big impact. The Davis Difference is not just about one person; it’s about what we can achieve when we come together as a community.

1. Volunteer

Consider volunteering your time and skills to Hearts and Hammers. Your contribution can change lives and brighten communities.

2. Donate

Your financial support can help fund vital home restoration projects. Every dollar counts.

3. Spread the Word

Share this story and the mission of Hearts and Hammers with your friends, family, and colleagues. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positivity and kindness.

Hearts and Hammers