ICSC: International Council of Shopping Centers

ICSC Fusion Conference volunteers aid high school

More than 30 shopping center professionals from all over the United States worked alongside 60 high school students at a public school in Hialeah Gardens, Fla., in a mentoring and school beautification project Sunday. The volunteers, who dubbed themselves the “Inspiration Team,” are attending ICSC’s Fusion Conference at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Fla.

The conference combines elements from ICSC’s former Fall Conference and Specialty Retail Conference, which ICSC fused together into one event focusing on income enhancement of shopping center operations, namely the management, marketing and specialty leasing functions. The conference includes a deal making trade exposition and the MAXI Awards for shopping center marketing programs.

The volunteers worked with Hands On Miami, a South Florida community service organization. The high school project was sponsored by American Express.

The volunteers began their day by holding mentoring sessions with Mater Academy Charter High School students. ICSC volunteers worked with the students in small groups providing career-planning support across multiple disciplines within the shopping center industry such as business, marketing, retailing, media relations and public speaking. Additionally, students and industry volunteers planted a butterfly garden designed and donated by a South Florida landscaping architect.

The U.S. Department of Education classified Mater Academy Charter School as a “Title 1” school, which means it receives federal, state and county funding due to the high percentage of students that come from low-income families. Charter schools are public schools that typically non-profit organizations operate under a performance contract with the public school system. The charter frees them from most rules governing traditional public schools but holds them strictly accountable for academic and financial results.

“I am very excited to play a part in this essential philanthropic endeavor,” said Clint Cochran, SCSM, vice president of management and marketing for King of Prussia, Pa.–based Kravco Simon Co., which manages a local shopping center, The Galleria at Ft. Lauderdale. “My team and I enjoyed helping these underprivileged children by providing career support,” he said, “and sparking their interest in our industry.”

United Way of Miami-Dade and Hands On Miami formed a strategic partnership to promote volunteerism in 1996. Hands On Miami is a member of the Atlanta-based Hands On Network, a network of organizations that develops entrepreneurial strategies for bridging community resources and needs. There are 42 Hands On Network organizations, including international affiliates in the Philippines, the Netherlands, China and 27 partner organizations in the United Kingdom.