Everything AND the kitchen sink 

Courtney Dunlay, who does Asset Management and runs the Charity Committee for property management firm StuartCo, says giving back has always been a priority in the company’s goals. (She’d probably know; her father, Stuart Nolan, is the founder and chairman.)

StuartCo supports a multiple of charity efforts, but their main partnership is with Simpson.  A little more than a decade ago, they decided they wanted to form a personal, long-term partnership with a specific cause. The idea of housing occurred pretty naturally; after all, that’s what StuartCo does. From there, upon the recommendation of a former board member, it was decided that Simpson would be a good fit.

That was back in 2010. Ever since, StuartCo has been a stalwart support of Simpson and its programs. Before the pandemic set in, residents in StuartCo’s properties would look forward to the annual Charity Week festivities, when various sites would compete to raise funds for Simpson with a bevy of fun activities. There were pool parties, dog washes, bake sales – a week of hype, fun, and friendly competition.

The property that raised the most funds would be declared the winner. In 2019, participants raised $14,000, and the company matched it for a total of $28,000. The funds went to Simpson and the New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Behind the scenes, StuartCo has also been an early supporter of Simpson’s Tools 4 School program, which raises money so students and their families can do some back-to-school shopping and get everything they need for a successful school year.

But one of the most special, simple things StuartCo does for Simpson is the same thing it does for its properties: basic maintenance.

Once or twice a year, employees would head over to the emergency shelter, the old office building, or the Passage Community (part of Simpson’s Family Housing program) and do the upkeep projects necessary to keep the buildings running. They paint walls, deep clean the kitchens, tune up the plumbing – whatever needs fixing.

“They’re just gems,” Director of Volunteer Engagement Christina Giese says. “I don’t think there’s been a time when I asked them for help and they said ‘no.’”

Courtney says it’s honestly a special event for the staff, too. Busy as they are with their own workloads, they always look forward to it.

“That’s a really fun day,” she says.

We owe a huge thanks to StuartCo for the support. You can learn more about how you or your company can partner with Simpson and give back to the community here, or contact Donor Relations Manager Bobbi Braaten at bbraaten@simpsonhousing.org.