Spire Realty Group’s Caleb Smith recently wrote about the generosity of the North Texas commercial real estate industry. It inspired RealPoints to launch a series of posts on how local firms are making a difference. First up is CBRE, the largest brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. This coming Friday, March 22, CBRE will host its 15th annual Chefs Showcase.
The event benefits Camp John Marc, which is dedicated to serving children who are living with chronic and terminal illnesses. It’s named after the late John Marc Myers, son of real estate developer Marc Myers and his wife Jan. John Marc died of osteogenic sarcoma in June 1987 at the age of 9. Since Chefs Showcase program was launched, CBRE has raised more than $1.7 million—all donated directly to Camp John Marc and enough to send 4,500 children to camp. Last year was the firm’s high-water mark; it raised $175,000, enough to support 450 campers.
The camp provides a fun experience for children with chronic illnesses, and it allows them to connect with others who are dealing with the same challenges. Just as important, it provides relief for the families, said Michael Caffey, senior managing director at CBRE.
Along with raising money, CBRE employees also get involved as volunteers at the camp, Caffey said. The firm is involved in other philanthropic endeavors throughout the year, but the CBRE-branded Chefs Showcase is its largest. “We have done this for 15 years now; even through the downturn we were still raising money,” Caffey said. “For us, it represents an opportunity to rally around a cause. At the end of the day, it helps us become a more cohesive business.”
Chefs Showcase 2013 will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas. Below are some photos of previous events. Click here to see a list of 2013 sponsors. Click here to see a list of the chefs participating in this year’s event. Music will be provided by Duck Soup.
To have your firm considered for the Giving Back series, send information to [email protected].
