Picerne Real Estate Group’s Post

If you want to smile today, watch this little video.

Kindness and character are just good business. ;)

Ahead of father's day this weekend I wanted to share an interesting video that highlights an important topic. Gift card company Hallmark, partnered with men’s suicide prevention charity ANDY’S MAN CLUB, to launch a study around men’s messages of love, appreciation and understanding. 19% of the 1,000 men questioned revealed that they find it easier to express their emotions in writing than face-to-face. Reasons for this included fear of embarrassment (42%), feeling awkward (39%) and concerns about appearing weak (30%). hat’s nearly 1 in 5 men who are saying they struggle to express their emotions, which is an indicative feature of low emotional efficacy. https://bit.ly/3VGzUVZ Recognising and addressing low emotional efficacy is crucial for individuals seeking to improve their wellbeing and performance. We explore this, and how acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), plus emotion efficacy training (EET) can help, on our latest blog: https://bit.ly/4b0ydXM

Sometimes coincidences are just too extraordinary.   This week, I was surprised by a beautifully wrapped Christmas gift by one of our Pledgers. Inside I found a copy of A Christmas Carol, and a note. It said that only on re-reading it as an adult, did they realise that it's not just a Gothic horror - but set out Dickens' philosophy of social responsibility, which is the idea that people are accountable to each other and have a duty to help one another, and that business has a particular role to play.   “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”   And then, yesterday Thought for the Day was the Rev Jayne Manfredi reflecting on Scrooge's questions - “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” in response to two gentlemen asking for a donation to help the poor during Christmas. She remembers her earlier career, teaching, and the young people, often boys, who start off on a path to exclusion and often prison. It's a staggering three minutes and I've linked to it below so you can listen too. Fair warning - I'm on my fourth listen, and I've cried every time.    As Christmas nears and a break beckons - I'm tired, and I'm looking forward to a rest. But I'm also looking forward to driving this forward again in January.    We're building a pipeline of investments that will help to improve the life chances of pupils who are excluded, in care, have come out the other side of care, who are at risk of homelessness, or already are.    And we'll be doing that fuelled by investments from local government (more on that soon), from forward-thinking local businesses (ditto), and from institutional impact investors who are helping to make change happen. And by donations and pledges of future wealth from Cambridge's innovation community and beyond that inspired that lovely gift. There is so much work to do.

While we only have 17 days till Opening Day, Charitable causes should always hold a special place in our hearts. They allow us to give back to the community and make a positive impact. What if we could make our contributions even more memorable? Look at a few ways Met Hospitality can add an exciting twist to our philanthropic efforts! 📌 DAY 6: Charitable Causes 🎁 Consider giving tickets to charitable organizations as a feel-good donation. It's not just about the financial contribution; it's about providing an unforgettable experience that can bring joy and positivity to those involved in the organization. 🏥 Think about donating tickets to patients at a local hospital. A game can provide a much-needed break, a chance to relax, and an opportunity to enjoy a moment away from the hospital environment. It's a unique way to show you care and support their journey to recovery. 🎉Let's not forget about our dedicated volunteers. Why not have a drawing to give tickets to a lucky volunteer? It's a fun and exciting way to engage your team and show your appreciation for their hard work. Ready to make your charitable contributions even more meaningful? Catch up with #CarlosMendoza! #MetHospitality #CharitableCauses #CommunityEngagement #EmployeeAppreciation #GiveBack Maximum Respect.

I want to take a moment to highlight an incredible client doing truly meaningful work: Actors PLAYground. Amber Ryan Cepkauskas, the owner and creative director, along with her husband, Matt Cepkauskas, have poured their hearts into creating a space where kids can not only learn the art of theater but also build confidence, find their voices, and develop skills like empathy and teamwork. It’s not just about acting—it’s about helping young people grow into their authentic selves. Amber has deep roots in theater, and Actors PLAYground is her labor of love. This year, they’re going all in: leasing a space, casting shows and seeking grant funding to keep this dream alive. And they’re investing in doing it right—while still respecting the reality of a nonprofit budget. I’ve had the privilege of working with Amber and Matt before, and they are, simply put, amazing humans. And they surround themselves with talented, kind-hearted people who share their passion for helping kids thrive. Getting to collaborate with them on this journey has been a professional high point for me. As many of you know, youth activities are rarely about creating future stars—they’re about teaching life lessons. Theater teaches skills that carry kids forward for life: confidence, collaboration, creativity. Amber and Matt know this, and they’ve built something special that deserves our attention. If you’re looking for a way to support a local nonprofit that’s making a difference in kids’ lives, I highly encourage you to learn more about Actors PLAYground—and if you're so inclined, consider donating to help them continue this important work. Learn more and donate here: https://lnkd.in/gbzXGMeJ   #YouthTheater #Nonprofit #CommunitySupport #ActorsPLAYground #GivingBack #ConfidenceThroughTheater #SupportLocalTheater

We're almost there at The Paper Bear! What a journey that has taken years! Step 1). Start a relatively small charitable film project as a direct charitable activity with the JWC Foundation Step 2). Convert that small, direct charitable activity film project into a full-on nonprofit to complete what has become a vision for a feature-length film that will help educate/inspire millions. (Woah.) Step 3). Raise around $1.5 million to fund the nonprofit feature film and donate countless hours to the cause. (Thank you to all our amazing supporters for believing in us!) Step 4). Assemble a production crew and international animation team to complete the feature film. (I'm still unsure how we pulled that off, but what a world-class team, and man, have I learned A LOT! All of you are rockstars.) Step 5). Exploring distributing partners, submitting to film festivals, and preparing for public screenings (TBD, but keeping my fingers crossed) It has been an incredible journey that has taken me on a roller coaster ride of a lifetime, but I wouldn't change a thing.

Check out this article of giving back by one of our wealthiest men in entertainment! https://lnkd.in/gqv-6Fyy

OJCF’s Impact Together program has partnered with five nonprofits dedicated to addressing the homelessness crisis in Oregon and Southwest Washington. HomeShare Oregon, one of our participants, takes proactive measures to confront homelessness by leveraging underutilized housing stock and spare bedrooms. HomeShare Oregon is continuously seeking individuals with spare bedrooms, particularly those who may be burdened by mortgages or those who have a desire to contribute to solutions for the affordable housing crisis. Each match not only addresses the immediate housing need, but also frees up an apartment for someone else in need. Learn more about this partnership by visiting ojcf.org/impact/. #ojcf #ojcfimpactogether #impacttogether #homeshareoregon #portlandoregon #Pdxoregon #pdxor #portlandor #portlandoregonlife #pdx101 #pdxnonprofit #portlandnonprofit #housingshare #houseshare #proactivesolutions #housingsolutions #housing #Homeshare #homelesspeople #homelessawareness

I am often asked why I left my performing arts studio, even though the pandemic was incredibly disruptive to our business, ability to offer performing opportunities, and lives. This gifted article link may shed some light on the subject. As it indicates, rising costs and real estate constraints are significant hurdles that are only increasing, causing theater companies to reduce programs, consolidate on season planning, and share space. This results in less work for artists as well as less art for the community they serve. We need MORE organizations to collaborate on space, co-productions, and community-building. We need more sustainable models moving forward, in order to provide meaningful arts programming. #theater #collaboration #community #sustainablemodels