Adopt a Platoon
Historically, NAIOP San Diego (NAIOPSD) has seen huge success in
being able to raise money and donate the funds raised to a number of
worthy causes. The Board of Directors decided to take this type of
giving to the next level in establishing its Community Involvement
Committee, where we not only raise funds, we become actively involved
in helping the community where we work, live and play. While
considering several options it became clear where San Diego might need
our support: the military and their families. Obviously, San Diego
being a big military town, it was not difficult to select and partner
with a needy group of fine individuals. Therefore our focus has been
The Adopt-a-Platoon Campaign. We were not aware of any other real
estate group doing this type of work to help such an important factor
in the community and felt it very unique. We have adopted the Alpha
Company out of Camp Pendleton, a Special Ops group of 130 men, due to
deploy to the Middle East in April 2007. We were honored to be invited
to meet these men and their families who have given selflessly to help
secure and protect our freedom.
The Adopt a Platoon Committee was formed with 20
members. The committee's duties would be to work closely with the
leaders of this platoon to address their needs, raise funds along the
way and be there for their families. After setting an initial meeting
with the leaders of this platoon, we came up with a game plan to
address their needs. The most important issue to these men was to know
that we would be there to help their families while they were away
protecting the United States. Secondly, as needs arose during their
deployment, NAIOPSD would answer these needs quickly. One of our
members designed the Adopt A Platoon brochure (included) which we used
to solicit donations. We then went out to the chapter membership and
the community and announced our plans and funds began flowing in. We
were moved by the amount of money that was raised in 2 short weeks.
Additionally, NAIOPSD's charity golf tournament benefited the Adopt a
Platoon Campaign and $40,000 was raised in this effort.
The first event that we hosted was Alpha Company's
pre-deployment dinner. Our members were invited to be a part of this.
The Commanding General of Marine Special Operations Command, Major
General Hejlik flew in from DC for this event. This rarely happens and
we were truly honored to be a part of this. The pre-deployment dinner
occurred at Camp Pendleton and was a great event where we got to know
the Marines and their families. The Marines also had a static display
of their equipment to show us. We hired a professional photographer to
take family photos for each Marine. Then they were able to order these
photos as a gift from NAIOPSD. Additionally, we purchased dinner
certificate/gift cards to give to the families. The Marines were
touched and truly appreciate what we have been able to do for their
families.
Adopt A Platoon: Marine Alpha Company Update
Alpha Company dealt a significant blow to Al Queda forces during their time in southern Afghanistan, but unfortunately not without one casualty. It is with great regret that we report that Corporal Travis Woods lost his life in an IED attack. The following is an excerpt from Major Bruce Sotire’s eulogy.“Travis fought with the same prowess in which he lived his life. Under the most intense enemy fire, you would never hear him get emotional or flustered. During the first attempt at crossing the Musa Qaleh Wadi, he thrived at the challenge of probing an enemy strongpoint in the British Combat Reconnaissance Tracks. Even in the direst of situations, it was apparent that Cpl Woods would rather have lived one day ‘boldly daring at greatness’ as opposed to 100 years of mediocrity. It was the tenacity of Cpl Woods during the 35 engagements with Taliban forces that became his trademark. His warrior spirit will live in us forever, for they do not make an IED powerful enough to destroy that…. There is no greater way to conclude a life such as his. Though many of us may live a longer life, few of us will ever live a better one.”
To date, NAIOP San Diego has supported Alpha Company by:
- Hosting their pre-deployment dinner. NAIOP members gathered together with the Alpha Company to get to know their families and give them a fitting send off.
- Sending cooling towels, vitamins and Gatorade
- Sending a Mother’s Day card and gift to all the wives
- Helping a Marine’s family transport to a vehicle
- Helping a Marine’s family that needed to be moved
- Helping a Marine’s wife fly to her father’s funeral in Japan
- Planning/hosting a party for Company Alpha in Perth, Australia on their way home.
“These Marines are HERO’s in my book and REAL roll models for our children (and us!),” said Matt Reid, NAIOP Community Involvement Committee chair.
To help NAIOP support Marine Special Operations Alpha Company and their families throughout the duration of their deployment, checks can be made payable to NAIOP and mailed to 2658 Del Mar Heights Road, #559, Del Mar, CA 92014.
A medic from Alpha Company attends to an Afghan soldier after an ambush
Below, we have shared a comment from Mike McNerney
-- "I had one young marine come up to me last night and tell me that he had been in for nine years and he was considering leaving the marines because he was not sure the country was supportive of them any more. He told me no group had ever done anything like this before and that it had re-energized him and he must of thanked me ten times. Of course, I heard that many times last night, they were thanking us for taking three hours out of our day, when they are putting their lives on the line so we can do what we do and live in peace. They are an amazing group of young men and women."
At Mother's Day, we sent each mother a Starbucks gift card and personalized Mother's Day Cards.
Other requests that came in: Well,
the marines are now officially gone! Their first stop is the
Philippines (for the next 45+/- days). There is a huge Muslim
population there, which has made many parts of the islands extremely
unsafe for native Filipinos to travel. The men are helping to train the
Filipino army so they can defend their own country! Evidently it is
extremely hot/humid there. Maj. Sotire forwarded me this request below.
Looks like they are trying whatever they can to stay cool. Please let
us know if this is something that NAIOP would be interested in. Thank
you!
Sir, Since we have been over here a couple of things have popped
into my head that would be great comfort items and I remembered that we
had that great organization NAIOP, sponsoring us. I was not sure if
this is something that they can do or not but I figured I would shoot
it your way for consideration. The items are:
Gatorade in single use foil packs. I figure 3 per
man per day x 45 days = 12,420 packs. The other item that I think would
be great is an item called the frog togg chilly pad. They are a company
that makes these shami like things that you wet and wear around your
neck and they also have one that is like a skull cap. I used one in
Iraq in OP's and it would seriously drop my temp 4-5 degrees easily. I
could go 24hrs and only use about ½ qt of water to keep it wet during
the hottest part of the day. At any rate the towels are only 14.95 and
are worth every penny. Thank You! ~ Chief
Newsletters and updates would be sent to our Executive Director during
their deployment to keep us in touch with them and then sent out to
each NAIOPSD member. To date, because of our members generous
donations, we have been able to send Gatorade, Cooling Towels, vitamins
as well as help various Alpha Company family members during the
company's deployment, such as help a family with a move, fly a family
to her father's funeral in Japan, and help transport a wounded Marine's
family. Their deployment dates were tentatively scheduled as April to
November.
At present, we have received word from our
Marines...they are on their way home via ship! With a stop in Perth,
Australia for a short leave, NAIOP will be hosting a party from them at
Carnegie's Perth. While on leave in Australia, NAIOPSD hosted their
event. Prior to the event, NAIOPSD members signed banners that thanked
them for their service to us and these banners were hung up at this
party. They expect to be off the coast of California around November
17th. Tentatively, they plan to be coming into San Diego on Sunday
November 18th. We are in close contact with the people planning the
event and will plan to welcome home these fine individuals.
NAIOPSD members are all invited to 2 very important
events: [1] Memorial Service for Corp. Woods, an Alpha Company Marine
who lost his life on their last mission and [2] welcome home party in
November.
Being able to help the community in this fashion has
not only been patriotic, it has brought the NAIOPSD community together
to give to a cause that is in the forefront of their minds. Helping
these marines will be a long term project for us and each and every
member has really expressed an interest in being involved in some way.
The marines are heroes in our eyes and real role models for our
children and us.
A father / daughter moment 
NAIOP members attending the pre-deployment dinner 
