“Spent a rewarding morning in Boston building this awesome fence for The SPARK Center and weeding all of the planter boxes. Got my sweat on and filled my heart! Doing Good Feels Good” said Jennessa Durrani IFMA’s event coordinator. Even my PR committee pal Tom Palange said it brought tears to his eyes to help these kids. The Spark Center and IFMA have formed a rewarding bond over the years.

Shown (from left) are: Francine Buck of Haworth; Dawn Borden of CFM; Tom Palange of Cannistraro; Mike Clancy of Creative Office Pavilion; Joseph Flynn of MPA; Jessamine Wigfall of Liberty Mutual; Ken McKeown of AAA and Jennessa Durrani of IFMA.

The SPARK Center serves as a model program for children whose problems exclude them from mainstream childcare settings. Unfortunately, federal budget cuts have weakened critical services. Most children at SPARK live in poverty with parents and caregivers who struggle daily. The SPARK Center provides high quality medical and psychotherapeutic services free of charge. Contributions help them meet the needs of each SPARK child.

Fence for The SPARK Center

The Kids Fund helps provide necessities not covered by medical insurance. Eyeglasses, winter coats,medicine and basic needs include food, clothing and home medical equipment for more than 25,000 children at Boston Medical Center whose families are living below the poverty level. The Kids Fund also provides key resources to ensure Boston’s neediest children and their families have the best possible health care outcomes. Learn more about the Kids Fund at BMC’s Department of Pediatrics website.

Learning and networking can happen anywhere. Volunteering and giving back has a way of teaching us that time is precious, but just maybe you will find the reward is much deeper. As the days get shorter and colder let’s all have a positive approach and remember to pay it forward. Of course if you can make that donation…an old coat, new coat, cash, check, and even if it is just a smile, it can make someone’s day.

Advancing your career with IFMA IFMA career development department can assist you in assessing your current career, help you develop as an FM professional and enhance your career in the future. If you are seeking a credential or designation in facility management, looking to transition to FM from another career or within the facility profession, they have the tools and information to put you on the right track. The CFM study hall series started on September 21 and will run to November 16. The focus is on the 9 competencies of the CFM Certification Exam. This is a self study support group, guided by IFMA members who have passed the CFM exam. Seven more to go! October 5 Emergency Preparation & Business Continuity/Technology; October 12 Envl. Stewardship & Sustainability/Operations & Maintenance; October 19 Real Estate; October 26 Human Factors/Leadership and Strategy; November 2 Finance; November 9 Project Management; and November 16 Clean up night/Practice Exam.

Shown (from left) are: Joanne Trask, Jessica Mewkalo, Alex Dupnik, Andrew Verderame and Annie McEvoy at the Jimmy Fund Walk.

It was a great day volunteering at the refueling station in Natick with IFMA Boston members. A big thank you to Greg Bartolini who missed the photo, but was handing out water to the walkers as they approached the refueling station. Next year we all have committed to walking the Boston marathon route! Check out more ways to pay it forward at http://www.jimmyfundgiving.org/

Annie McEvoy is an associate publisher at the New England Real Estate Journal, Norwell, Mass.