Avison Young’s Chicago-area offices recently partnered for a day with Friends of the Forest to clear about an acre and a half of brush in a Chicago nature preserve. This effort was part of Avison Young’s global Day of Giving, a corporate initiative now in its sixth year and a cornerstone of the firm’s charitable efforts through offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Asia and Europe.
The Chicago effort included 345 hours of volunteering with Friends of the Forest at Possum Hollow Woods Forest Preserve, located at 1711 W. 31st Street, La Grange Park, Illinois. Volunteers from the firm’s Chicago and suburban Rosemont offices cleared common buckthorn and honeysuckle, which are native to Europe and Asia, respectively. These two invasive species choke out native flowers, grasses, shrubs and tree species that grow in the forest understory. The end goal is to foster safe habitats and healthy ecosystems for native plants and animals.
“I’m proud to be part of these impactful volunteer efforts as we support our communities and enhance the area’s sustainability,” said Chicago-based Avison Young principal and chief financial officer, Christine Battist. “We are a unique company with a passion for our people and our communities. Our global Day of Giving connects these two passions and promotes awareness, collaboration and teamwork.”
Across more than 120 Avison Young offices globally, staff activities ranged from packing food at food banks; to painting, cleaning and landscaping at animal and youth shelters; to making crafts with senior citizens. Throughout the day, Avison Young employees donated more than 12,000 hours to 80 different charitable organizations around the world.
