Novare Group Volunteers For a Day at Continental Colony Elementary School

Atlanta, GA - (April 25, 2007) - Almost no one showed up on a recent Friday at the offices of Novare Group, the Atlanta-based developer of high-rise condominiums—but there was no massive absenteeism afoot. Instead, Novare employees got out of the office and went into the community for a day of volunteerism. The focus of Novare Volunteer Day 2007 was Continental Colony Elementary School, part of the Atlanta Public Schools system and located in southwest Atlanta.

“Novare Group’s employees have a drive to perform in their daily jobs,” said Jim Borders, president of Novare Group, “but they also have a generous spirit and a desire to give back to Atlanta, our hometown. Volunteer Day helps us get to know each other better while working together to make a difference in our community.”

More than 175 Novare employees participated, with only key operations personnel left behind. Fourteen teams performed tasks that had been selected over several weeks of consultation with Continental Colony’s administration and staff. These included landscaping and cleanup, building an outdoor classroom, constructing raised flower beds and compost bins, building reading lofts for kindergarten classes, painting and furnishing the visitors’ reception area, and brightening the school cafeteria with fresh paint, bookshelves and a new corkboard wall.

At the conclusion of the workday, employees enjoyed a meal catered by local restaurant favorite The Varsity and participated in an awards ceremony that recognized each team’s efforts. Crowning the day’s activities was the introduction of twins Alvin and April Miller, who are graduates of Continental Colony and seniors at Atlanta’s Therrell High School, where they are outstanding students. Jim Borders presented each student a $2,500 scholarship to be used toward higher education this fall. The scholarships are being administered by Mayor Shirley Franklin’s Mayor’s Youth Program, which assists Atlanta public school seniors in developing a plan for their education following high-school graduation.

This is Novare Group’s third annual Volunteer Day. Each observance has been developed in partnership with Hands On Atlanta. Plans are already underway for Volunteer Day 2008.