I served as Chapter Champion for the CREW Network Foundation this past year for the Charlotte NC Chapter which was my first major introduction into the value and benefits CREW Network offers. I learned through the delegate process about the many resources available from CREW Network for women and their careers at all levels. I had agreed to participate in our local mentoring program but had never participated in a formal process. The whitepapers available from CREW Foundation gave me direct access to ten women and their experiences in a process I was embarking on....being considered seasoned in my career, I am excited relevant programming and resources are available to me personally. CREW Foundation also is active in promoting real estate careers in young women. My daughter personally benefitted from CREW Foundation by being awarded one of the Network Foundation scholarships in 2014. She has already received benefits and exposure young women do not normally have the opportunity to be exposed through unless in an environment specifically focused on building women like CREW Network. I was so proud to see the notes she took and engage in the conversations she had about the speakers at convention and networking available in Miami this year. There is no question she has more confidence in herself as a student, leader and future career person after the experiences over the past year through CREW. I believe strongly in the CREW Network Foundation and so excited me and my daughter were able to participate in so many ways this year!
Women with successful careers in commercial real estate should be searching for avenues to help the next generation. CREW Network Foundation presents that opportunity, building the future through scholarships, research and mentoring. Significantly, from what I observed, the fundraising is what I would call "fat free" and the $$ end up directly advancing the mission. For this reason, I am more than happy to support as a donor and volunteer.
The CREW Foundation has impressed me a great deal. The primary reason for this is because the organization is fiscally responsible, which is not always the case with non profits. That fiscal responsability allows CREW to make many benefits available to its members and recipients of foundation dollars, in all its forms. Additionally, I enjoy participating with an organization who is so invested in the improvement of career paths for women. I would whole heartedly make the same choice with my donations and am proud to be a donor to the CREW Foundation.
As the CREW Network Foundation Champion for CREW St. Louis, I have grown to appreciate the value and benefits it provides to members and future real estate career opportunities for women. Increasing awareness of the scholarship endowment has landed St. Louis two native scholars and helped our members see where their dollars are going. I speak from experience with the benefits of the benchmark studies and white papers helping with compensation discussions and how to grow in leadership. Locally, we are able to engage with high school and college women to inform them of the wide range of careers in real estate as well as the students teaching us a thing or two about reaching out to them--mostly through social media. You cannot put a price on the value CREW Network Foundation brings to its members, but we can continue to educate our members on how they can support and make an impact no matter the contribution.
I joined the CREW Network in 2014 and the experience has been top notch ever since first setting foot inside the door. The sense of community was immediately apparent among the members and beyond just building networks, everyone was extremely intentional on building relationships. I have not only had the opportunity to expand my business in the Northern Colorado area thanks to CREW but have expanded my knowledge of resources around in the surrounding areas. I am excited to see what lies ahead for CREW Northern Colorado and how we can continue to build our community together!
I was selected as a Delegate to CREW National from my local chapter, CREW Atlanta, this past year. It has been an eye opening experience for me seeing first hand all of the incredible work that is being done at CREW Network and CREW chapters across the country. The mission of empowering and promoting women in commercial real estate is being meet with diversity to impact as many people as possible. The programs offered include scholarships, mentoring, leadership, awards and exposure to the dynamic national CREW Network conferences. This organization takes it mission very seriously and it's team of dedicated staff and volunteers are making a huge impact!
I was a Scholarship recipient of the CREW Network Foundation to help further my graduate education in Commercial Real Estate. Crew Network provides scholarships, mentoring with industry professionals, and membership for a year. Membership provides the opportunity to grow in a plethora of educational and networking opportunities, and the coup de great is the opportunity to attend the CREW Convention where 1000's of successful women bolster each other to perpetuate careers in real estate. Some of the speakers this year were Steve Forbes, Katty Kay, and Hillary Clinton.
The organization is Very well organized, well attended, growing and substantially supported by several of the worlds biggest and best real estate companies.
I have been a supporter of CREW Network Foundation as a volunteer, a contributor and a board member. I have given my time and my money because I believe that what the organization is doing to improve (i) awareness of the talent inequities in the commercial real estate industry and (ii) preparedness of women in, and looking to join, the industry is necessary and unequalled. While many firms and individuals in the industry are talking about the issues surrounding gender equality, there are few really putting their time and their money behind the conversation. CREW Network Foundation is doing all of that and more. The only reason why I didn't give the organization 5 stars is that it is limited in its range due to the limitations of funding. I believe that if more funds were available to support the organization's programming it would "far exceed" expectations.
CREW Foundation has been instrumental in empowering younger women by educating and providing opportunities in commercial real estate. I have personally seen the impact with several of our local UCREW students. They have gone from our UCREW program, internships and then to careers in prominent companies. CREW Foundation not only serves as an educational resource for younger women interested in the industry, it also continues to remind each of us, that have established careers in the industry, how important it is to share our stories with the younger generation. I have personally donated, and will continue!
I have donated to this worthy cause, CREW Network Foundation several times due to the mission and execution of the Foundation. I have received so much from CREW and my affiliation with the organization.
It is worth giving back and paying it forward to the Foundation.
I have personally donated to the CREW Foundation over the past few years, as well as attending one of their wonderful fund raising events. As the President of the IndyCREW chapter, one of my missions was to get our chapter committed to fund raising and donating. Our chapter has successfully raised and donated over $5,000 this year. Our Board also has 100% donor participation this year. The money supports the very worthy and under served purpose of providing scholarships, as well as funding much needed cutting edge research. I personally will continue to support the foundation, and hope that our chapter will continue their support for the foundation in the future as well.
I served on the CREW Network Foundation Scholarship Committee for two years and had an extraordinary experience mentoring two wonderful scholarship award winners. The Foundation has put together a strong program to encourage accomplished young women to enter the commercial real estate industry. I am also a donor to the Foundation and increased my donation considerably once I experienced first hand how meaningful this program is to up and coming women in our industry.
I have been a Chapter leader and donor for several years- because I believe in CREW and it's mission. What better way to support our mission than to directly contribute to the growth and success of our future women leadership in CRE! We're gaining more and more momentum thanks to CREW and the Foundation!
I have held many positions within CREW Charlotte and feel strongly that this organization, unlike any others, has helped so much in my business career. For this reason, I feel we need to pay it forward and share with the next generation. They need to be shown the way and who better to it, than other women. I believe in the power of CREW.
Carrie Sharp
Indoff Commercial Interiors
CREW Charlotte
I am a past president of CREW Fort Worth. Currently, as a CREW Network Foundation Champion Director my journey has intersected with extraordinary leaders and provided the ability to develop new friendships across the U.S. and in Canada. I believe that time is our most valuable asset. The time that I have committed to CNF has enriched my life. Embracing the CNF mission is important to me because through contributions and commitment of time, I am a small participant in a vision that is changing the dynamics of our commercial real estate industry. Supporting CNF is also close to my heart as it allows me to honor my parent's philosophies in supporting education. The opportunity to meet some of the CNF scholarship recipients was inspiring. I found our scholars to be intelligent women, who will bring the strength of new talent to our industry and a willingness to participate in giving back.
I am a past president of CREW NJ and served on CREW Network board in 2013 and 2014. CREW Network has helped me advance in my career as well as connect me with women that are leaders in all facets of the commercial real estate industry. I have always believed in paying it forward and CREW Network Foundation is the best platform to do so. It focuses on research and scholarships that work to advance women in commercial real estate. I have had the pleasure of working with the scholars and it fires me up to see the talent entering into the industry. The scholarships assist with entry into the field and the research help guide women in their choices as they navigate their careers. Currently, a critical focus of the research is guiding women to leadership positions. The work being done is stellar.
The Twin Cities Chapter of CREW (MNCREW) has seen first-hand the value of the CREW Foundation, with 3 young women from our area being awarded the scholarship!
Our chapter greatly values the Foundation, signified by 100% of Board participation in donating to the CREW Foundation over the past few years.
CREW Foundation is an important facet to the CREW organization as a whole. In addition to the financial and educational assistance it provides its members and the young women it supports, CREW and CREW foundation are contributory to the advancement of women in a predominately male driven industry. It is, in the highest form, "women helping women."
CREW Foundation has consistently been on my giving list. Since joining CREW Network through the Kansas City chapter four years ago, it has been my pleasure to support this worthy foundation who does so much good to promote women in the commercial real estate industry. One way I enjoy making an impact with my gifts is to honor our chapter officers and name the gift for them. A great way to do good for other women and put a smile on women I admire and appreciate.
The CREW Network Foundation assisted me in obtaining my Masters in Business Administration in Real Estate and continue on to work for CBRE full time after the initial internship the CREW Network Foundation also assisted me in getting. I would not have made it where I am today without the monetary and mentorship support from the CREW Network Foundation.
To me, CREW Network Foundation (CNF) is a room full of many windows for those interested in helping others achieve their dreams. The CREW organization has enriched my life and presented me with so many wonderful opportunities to enhance my leadership skills and most importantly, a venue to share my passion for life and commercial real estate.
As Pablo Picasso so elequently stated; "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away".
Karin Schulz
Past CNF Chair
CREW, and especially the CREW Network Foundation, have been instrumental in my success as a budding commercial real estate professional. I'm a 2014 recipient of the CREW Network Foundation scholarship, and the combination of funds and support have made such a difference in my current path. As a graduating senior, I've had the opportunity to connect with local women in the industry, explore new careers I had never considered, and gain knowledge from successful women who have already "been there, done that"! I couldn't be more grateful to be in the space of hundreds of dedicated individuals, nor more excited to be a part of such a dynamic and beneficial organization.
As a small private organization, we rarely have the opportunity to sponsor and support worthwhile causes because of our internal policies and procedures. However, CREW has been paramount for me in establishing fruitful and rewarding relationships. These relationships have enhanced my ability to perform my role in all property management related-areas through connections with vendors and other colleagues in my specialized aspects. It has also become very important for me to surround myself with so many successful, educated, ambitious women who are like-minded. I realize that I am not alone and that I can lean on and learn from each CREW member despite their area of expertise. And for these reasons, I happily support the CREW organization through donations and time.
CREW Network Foundation is the ONLY foundation that supports the advancement of women in commercial real estate. The philanthropic outreach programs that CNF supports have really made a difference in bringing opportunities to women interested in a career that will support them (and their families). Between the college and graduate school scholarships and internships, the mentoring programs, our signature U CREW program (our university outreach), and CREW Careers, we are introducing girls and women to a very productive and potentially very successful career path.
There is nothing more powerful than helping people find their passion, and find a profession that will reward them with the opportunity to be economically self sufficient.
That kind of empowerment for women allows them to make better decisions; to contribute in meaningful ways to their families; to their communities; to the charities they believe in and want to support; and it allows them the satisfaction that comes with believing in themselves and their abilities.
I fully realize the tremendous value in the CREW Networks' industry research and I am delighted to support the CREW Network Foundation. Their mentoring and educational support of young women in commercial real estate is commendable and something for which their membership should take great pride.
100% of our CREW Lehigh Valley PA chapter Board of Directors provided financial support to the Network Foundation over the last two years. We believe in the Foundation, it's mission and the women who make things happen for others, including mentoring, scholarships and valuable research shared in white papers. CREW Network and the Foundation are ideal models for other national associations which seek to have a significant, positive impact on it's membership.
CREW Network Foundation has a broad and far reaching impact of so many women in our industry.
From U-Crew at the collegiate level to E-Mentoring, helping women at ALL phases of life and career to
providing scholarships to deserving women seeking to elevate themselves. In addition, the value of research and information CNF provides is helpful to all seeking to break salary barriers and and advance careers. I have donated to CNF for 10 years knowing a donation is an investment for my future and the future of all women seeking to move forward and upward.
Denise S. Meng
CREW Atlanta
I have been a multi-year donor to CREW Foundation, as it is the only Foundation dedicated to elevating women in commercial real estate to realize their fullest potential. Through direct scholarships and industry research, CREW Foundation effectively makes a difference. The financial results of public companies speaks to the business imperative for women's voices in the board room, and CREW Foundation is best poised to influence positive change.
CREW Foundation supports women in Commercial Real Estate through scholarships, outreach and mentoring, and extremely powerful research to assist women in the field in providing evidence to support their salary and other requests to continue to work toward parity with regard to pay within the industry. CREW Foundation does a great job in making a difference for women in Commercial Real Estate and I am proud to support this organization.
CREW Foundation provides scholarships to young women to help them achieve their goal of obtaining their degree in a Commercial Real Estate field. Also they provide industry research for all women in the Commercial Real Estate field to empower them to be the best they can be!
CREW Network Foundation was formed in 1998, and originally funded programs to support the self-sufficiency of women and girls. In 2008, it's focus changed to awarding scholarships, mentoring and paid internships to college age women who are pursuing one of the 32 fields related to commercial real estate. This is a streamlined, passionate, grass roots organization which can leverage your investment exponentially by providing educational assistance and career guidance to exceptional young women.
CREW foundation provides scholarships and support for women seeking careers in commercial real estate. The foundation provides critical research for the entire commercial real estate industry through its white papers and other resources.
CREW Network does an amazing job of providing research for women in commercial real estate, as well as providing scholarship opportunities for young women seeking careers in the industry. With an abundance of research, mentoring and education opportunities to advance women in commercial real estate, CREW Foundation has its mission right on point and follows through!