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Community Service

The Houston Apartment Association provides services and volunteers for apartment-related community service projects. Promoting our efforts in the community leads to a positive public image for the association and its members. The Community Outreach Committee acts as the advisory body for HAA’s Board of Directors on projects, partnerships and programs related to serving renters and the community at large.  The committee and its members act on behalf of HAA to promote industry support for the projects, partnerships and programs undertaken as community outreach efforts.

If you are interested in participating in community service activities or projects, please contact Susan Hinkley at 713-595-0313 or shinkley@haaonline.org. or Aimee Arrington at 713-595-0302 or aarrington@haaonline.org  Besides the projects listed below, we have a number of new initiatives we are taking on this year and we could use your help.  Contact us for more details.

 

School Supply Drive 

HAA collected donations of supplies and cash during a citywide drive, which included hundreds of the association’s member properties. HAA collected more than 200 boxes of supplies and almost $31,000 in donations, which were distributed through the Alliance of Community Assistance Ministry (ACAM) member agencies. ACAM estimates that more than 10,000 children will be helped by the effort. With HAA’s donations, an entire class of preschoolers in Galveston County displaced by Hurricane Ike was outfitted with uniforms and back-to-school supplies. The project was part of a vision by HAA's 2009 President Beth Van Winkle for the association to have a greater role in serving the Houston community. HAA Public Relations Specialist Aimee Arrington said the project not only engaged members and forged relationships with community organizations and residents, but it created opportunity for even more communication and service. “It gave us an unexpected bonus, by allowing us the opportunity to get information to renters about assistance organizations that could help in times of need,” Arrington said. “This is truly a credit to President Van Winkle’s vision of enhanced community stewardship for our organization.”

Ronny Finger AlLStars Sports Challenge

Held for the first time in 2004, this event raises money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Lou Gehrig's disease research. More than 200 competitors and 50 volunteers participated in the event this year. HAA raised over $18,000 and has raised over $100,000 for MDA during the event's seven year history.

MS 150 Bike Ride from Houston to Austin

The MS 150 Bike Ride sponsored by Direct Energy supports those living with multiple sclerosis and raises money for research. HAA has participated for the many years with typically 60 or more riders.

Pink Ladies Golf Outing

This event has raised over $275,000 for the American Cancer Society and breast cancer research in the eight years we have held the event. Ladies play golf and the guys caddy for them. It is a great opportunity for ladies to get out on the course without a lot of pressure. Tarantino Properties two teams raised over $4700.00 and Greystar participated with over 20 teams and raised over $14,000.  This year's event hit a milestone, raising over $50,000 for the American Cancer Society and breast cancer research and causes. Many thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, players and caddies for another great year. 

Houston Food Bank Food Drive

The Houston Apartment Association thanks all the properties, companies and volunteers who donated collected packed and delivered food! HAA has participated for 14 years in the Share Your Holidays drive and the Houston Food Bank lists HAA as one of the top 25 donors to their organization.  If you would like to hold your own food drive get a list of the HFB Most Needed Items or visit their website for  more information www.houstonfoodbank.org 

Kidney Walk

The Kidney Foundation of Southeast Texas Walk raises funds to support education and research to prevent kidney and urinary tract disease and to create greater awareness about the need for organ donation. HAA members participate by forming teams to walk and by sponsoring the event. In 2009, the event raised $94,500 for the foundation with 1,717 walkers participating.

 

Children's Defense Fund

HAA is well positioned to reach out to families that live in Houston's apartment communities where many children who need the CHIP/Children's Medicaid programs live.

CDF will strategically train HAA member apartment managers and owners about how the insurance programs work and how to help families apply for them. HAA will help CDF reach out to apartment community residents. CDF employees will attend events in those communities and distribute information and applications, as well as talk directly with families who may qualify for the insurance programs. Visit www.cdftexas.org for more information.


More About HAA Community Involvement

Charities

HAA and its members donate regularly their time and money to the American Red Cross, Houston Habitat for Humanity, Houston Food Bank, American Cancer Society, Kidney Foundation of Southeast Texas, Special Olympics and many other worthy causes.

Listed here are some of our past accomplishments:

  • Houston Apartment Association members pledged $45,000 and volunteered numerous man-hours to build a house during Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy Carter Work Project in June 1998. In 1997 and 1999, 125 HAA volunteers helped build homes on designated HAA Habitat Days.
  • In 1997, HAA co-sponsored with the city of Houston a new Preschoolers and Parents Water Safety Program designed for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their parents that involved hundreds of apartment families. Since 1998, several hundred HAA apartment communities have held HAA-sponsored water safety seminars on-site, taught by American Red Cross and Save-A-Life/Prevent-A-Drowning instructors. In 1999, the number of drownings in Houston dropped by 50 percent.
  • HAA helped establish and continues to support the Houston/Harris County Furniture Bank, which collects and distributes donated furnishings to the homeless.
  • HAA members donate generously to the Leukemia Society ($30,000 annually) and other charities every year in organized fund-raisers.
  • HAA members helped the SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Alliance Houston raise more than $30,000 in 2000.
  • HAA sponsors several No Small Affair baseball outings every year, giving disadvantaged youth the opportunity to meet Houston Astros players and see a game in person.
Links to Service Organizations