Doing It For The Kids: North Texas CRE Uses Building Expertise To Make Wishes Come True

In March, Bisnow announced its partnership with the North Texas branch of the nonprofit organization Make-A-Wish to support children with critical illnesses in Dallas. This partnership took the form of a friendly three-way fundraising competition among Bisnow, property tax consultancy Meritax Advisors and commercial real estate company Holt Lunsford Commercial, which raised $42K in three weeks.

This collaboration was part of Make-A-Wish North Texas’ Wishmakers at Work corporate partnership program. This program enables companies to participate in and support fundraising or volunteering initiatives that help make children’s wishes come true and do “more than just a nice thing — make work more purposeful and help change the lives of everyone involved in wish experiences, forever.”

Bisnow brought back this competition on July 31 at its Tarrant State of the Market event, with JLL’s Dallas office competing against interiors construction firm Pacific Builders. The event raised $65K for Make-A-Wish North Texas. 

Make-A-Wish North Texas Community and Corporate Director of Philanthropy Aletrice Dodoo said the organization has 1,139 children in North Texas with wishes to be fulfilled, and each wish typically costs around $15K to grant. 

She said that there are 61 wishes that fall within the realm of construction and design — including playhouses, playsets, campers and room makeovers or renovations. 

“These are the kinds of wishes where the commercial real estate community can make a remarkable impact,” Dodoo said. “They can become wish-granters, volunteer through our Builders of Hope program or contribute to our next fundraiser to help bring these wishes to life.”

JLL Senior Vice President Jayme Schutt said CRE professionals can bring their expertise in design, construction project management, materials sourcing and space planning to grant wishes. 

“Our industry doesn't just build spaces. We create experiences and environments where memories are made,” she said. “When a child is facing a critical illness, these physical spaces become so much more than structure. They become sources of hope, joy and healing.”

Pacific Builders CEO Steve French said the company has a network of tradesfolk and builders that can help bring projects such as playgrounds, sheds and decks to life. He added that when JLL reached out to compete in the fundraiser, “it was a no-brainer.”

“Our team is dedicated to giving back and helping others, and our primary support includes helping children in need,” French said. “We have a great collaboration with JLL, so this was a wonderful opportunity to join in and take part in some friendly banter.”

Schutt said JLL brought the spirit of the competition in-house and ended up exceeding its baseline targets. 

She said that because the industry is responsible for creating buildings and communities that people interact with on a day-to-day basis, taking part in philanthropy to help those communities comes second nature. 

“This wasn’t just about hitting fundraising goals but about having a real impact with families who are very deserving of joy,” she said. “The response showed us that when you give people a meaningful way to make a difference, especially one that connects to their professional skills and networks, they'll exceed every expectation.”

CRE professionals who are looking to get involved in philanthropy should tap into their passions and connect with organizations that align with those passions to see how they can help, French said.

For companies seeking collaborators for a fundraising initiative, Schutt suggested looking internally first to see if employees have a passion for a specific cause or are already involved with a philanthropic organization. Companies can also target communities they invest or develop in and see if there are any areas where help is needed. Once they find the community or cause, they can consider how the team can contribute based on their industry expertise.

“The key is finding partnerships where you can contribute more than just money,” she said. “Look for organizations where your values align and your skills can make a difference.”

Schutt credited Bisnow for providing a platform for fundraising and for Make-A-Wish North Texas families to share their experiences.

Dodoo said that these fundraisers can provide an opportunity to create lasting and meaningful connections in the workplace, going beyond answering “I’m fine” when someone asks, “How are you?”

“This gives people an opportunity to be open about things that they may not normally talk about, like their kids being Wish kids and what the family is going through,” she said. “It opens up the door for us to be humans at work.”

This article was produced in collaboration between Studio B and Make-A-Wish North Texas. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.