NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2024
EVENT RECAP HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
BY JULIE LINCOLN
Through FRED’s continued corporate sponsorship with Milwaukee’s Habitat for Humanity, we once again had the opportunity to provide volunteers for work days this fall. In total, four different homes were worked on by our teams.
In September, 13 volunteers were divided into two teams/homes: framing and siding It was a very hot day but our hardworking teams nailed down floors, raised walls, finished a porch, and got a lot of siding applied! In October, 18 volunteers were divided into two teams/homes: drywall and painting. We had another productive day, cutting and installing drywall and getting lots of painting done!
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy work schedule to volunteer. Together, we made a huge impact on the lives of the homeowners and the future of our Milwaukee neighborhoods As a bonus, with the help of the very patient Habitat leaders, I think it’s fair to say we all improved our construction skills!
Look out for more opportunities to volunteer with FRED next year! Want to do more? Habitat is always looking for volunteers! Find out how you can serve by visiting their volunteer page HERE.
VETERANS DAY HONORING HEROES
BY ERIN BALL
As Veterans Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the inspiring work of Stars and Stripes Honor Flight (SSHF), an organization dedicated to honoring veterans with a meaningful trip to Washington, D C Each year, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans are given the opportunity to take an all-expenses-paid trip to visit the memorials built in their honor - a deeply moving experience for all involved.
I've had the privilege of volunteering with Stars and Stripes Honor Flight for five years Serving as a bus captain on flight days, I’m fortunate to travel alongside the veterans, guiding them through D.C. as they reconnect with history, share in camaraderie, and reflect. The veterans often describe the day as unforgettable. It is a chance for healing, sharing stories, and honoring friends who never came home
As an all-volunteer organization, SSHF has no paid employees and a strong commitment to keeping costs down, allowing $0.97 of every donated dollar to go directly to their mission. I am truly grateful for FRED, as they have been a great partner to SSHF over the years by sponsoring their annual gala
Follow SSHF on Facebook to experience a flight day for yourself, as the team shares the life-changing experience from beginning to end!
FRED OUT OF OFFICE
BY SHAUNA TISDALL
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Use the QR code to submit your out of office activity for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue!
Fast disappearing and on a path towards eradication, wild horses are caught in a battle over land and special interests. My sister and I are on a mission to rescue and rehome as many mustangs as possible, while educating our friends, co-workers, and the public about this issue.
Did you know that the federal government uses costly and cruel practices to eliminate wild horses and burros from our public lands to clear the way for private livestock grazing?
Ranchers are permitted to graze a total of 155 million acres of public land for their livestock and personal benefit, reaping the financial rewards, while the forage for wild horses is depleted by their nonnative cattle. The BLM (Bureau of Land Management) spends more than $137 million each year (taxpayer dollars) to cruelly remove and confine tens of thousands of wild horses and burros using helicopters Those who survive roundups are stockpiled in government holding facilities with a current count of 46,000 in small dirt lots, separated from their families, with no shelter from sun, no room to roam, no life worth living. Those who can’t be adopted or auctioned off are sentenced to a lifetime in these holding facilities, or worse, end up in the slaughter pipeline headed for Mexico.
My sister and I have rescued and rehomed four wild mustangs thus far We’ve also encouraged our horse friends to adopt them and then help them re-train so they can be integrated into domestic life. Although four horses do not seem like a lot, keeping a horse is very expensive (feeding, vet bills, farrier bills, boarding costs) and retraining requires months, if not years, of daily handling. Mustangs require the utmost patience to earn our trust, as their only human interactions before we get them have been inhumane Some are mean, some are scared, some are a little of both Mustangs truly do make the best companions, competition partners, and trail horses as they are extremely hardy and have strong bones and feet, making their care easy moving forward once they are gentled and we have their trust. Horses teach us that true strength lies in trust and patience.
I urge you to watch the documentary, Wild Beauty Mustang Spirit of the West, which is available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV Americanwildhorse.org is a great resource to learn more about our mission You can also follow Free Wild Horses on Instagram and Facebook
PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT 50TWENTY
BY SARAH HARRINGTON
50Twenty celebrates its 10th year this year! To honor the anniversary, the team is tying in Resident Appreciation Week, offering treats and a raffle the first week of November The first day’s activity is “Meet the Manager”, where residents will meet and greet with the new Property Manager, Katie Sikora. Katie returned to FRED in October –her prior role was the APM at Domain. They also have a new APM, Nicole Risch, who was recently promoted from a Leasing Professional at The 85 and formerly at Arbor Lakes
50Twenty also newly announced the addition of another fire pit, which will enhance the outdoor area, providing the perfect backdrop for socializing, storytelling, and enjoying evenings under the stars They are currently updating the stair landings with new carpet tiles and treads on the stairwells in all seven buildings
FRED Field Trip
The Milwaukee City Hall was built in 1895 and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2005 The building’s design was inspired by the Flemish Renaissance and was historically ahead of its time in its technology (including operating its own power grid and elevator shafts).
As neighbors to this historic landmark, some of the corporate team attended a behind-the-scenes City Hall tour! The tour starts in the first floor rotunda of the building. A 200-step climb leads to the end of the tour at the Solomon Jueau Bell, named after Milwaukee’s first mayor
If you visit the corporate office, consider taking the tour! It runs from April to October and offers incredible views.
OUR GROWING COMPANY
SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 - OCTOBER 15, 2024
Whether promoting from within or bringing new team members on board, we are always excited to see the ways FRED is growing. Help us in congratulating the individuals below on their new roles!
ROSIBEL ORTIZ CLEANER ARBOR LAKES
ALBERT OUTLAW GROUNDSKEEPER ARBOR LAKES
RECOMMENDATIONS APP
BY SHELBY CUTLER
One of my all-time favorite apps is Pinterest! It's so easy to fall down the scrolling rabbit hole on any app, but what I love about Pinterest is how tailored it is to my searches and interests based on what I tend to look at the most. I use it constantly, especially for quick and simple recipes, which really comes in handy when camping and needing family-friendly meals that are easy to prepare in larger portions - especially with all the picky eaters in our family I have found a lot of my Traeger recipes off Pinterest as well!
Beyond that, I often turn to Pinterest for holiday decor inspiration and party ideas for our monthly resident events It’s been a great resource, and I even like to borrow recipes from there to feature in our newsletter for residents. I highly recommend turning to Pinterest if you're stumped on what you should feature in your newsletter or what your next party theme should be. I have gotten many ideas from these boards and you can save them for later or share them with your coworkers
LAURA KIEHL LEASING PROFESSIONAL SEASONS AT HOFFMAN ESTATES
MIKEY EVENSON LEASING PROFESSIONAL SEASONS AT GRAFTON
LAURA CHRISTIANSON LEASE UP MANAGER APEX AT VERONA
ARON JAGIELLO GROUNDSKEEPER RIDGE VIEW