WPD Management, a property management company operating throughout the South Side of Chicago, has launched WPD Cares. The initiative aims to give back to residents, communities served and employees.
“We’ve seen the impact the pandemic has had and wanted to create a more formal approach to the frequency, programming and support offered to our residents,” said Patrick Ryan, COO of WPD Management.
WPD Management serves as property management to over 3,000 residents and kicked off 2021 by providing $10,000 in rent credit to residents in need.
“When we mentioned the rent credit initiative to our client Goldman Investments, they contributed an additional $10,000 to residents living in the buildings we manage for them,” said Ryan. “We also received $2,000 from Kiser Group as part of their year-long initiative to give back to struggling renters.”
The combined $22,000 in rent credit was allocated to 19 units impacting residents ranging from janitorial workers who lost pay due to commercial building closures to single mothers who took time off to care for children needing help with e-learning, and CPS coaches who lost coaching pay due to sports cancellations across the district.
A veteran with health issues and WPD Management resident currently receives help from family members to make his rent payments on time, “When he received our rent credit letter, he was over the moon and very appreciative,” said Ryan. “He said it’s a great opportunity for him to start fresh and feel a weight lifted off his shoulders.”
Past WPD Cares initiatives included randomly selecting 100 residents to receive a $50 gift card during the holiday season and a toy drive organized by property manager Traci Haskell. The toy drive handed out more than 150 gifts to resident children within Haskell’s Englewood community building. For going above and beyond, she earned the company’s 2020 WPD Cares Award.
Through WPD Cares, residents will enjoy additional surprise and delight programming throughout 2021. The initiative also plans to make donations and provide volunteers to support southside-focused nonprofits and communities within which WPD Management operates.
