As 2025 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the heart of what makes Dweck Properties special: our people and their commitment to giving back. Through our Dwecksters Doing Good initiative, team members across the company have dedicated their time, energy, and compassion to strengthening the communities we call home.

This year’s journey of service has taken us from food pantries to restoration centers to clothing drives to environmental projects. Each month brought new opportunities to roll up our sleeves, connect with incredible organizations, and witness firsthand the power of collective action.

“Humans need each other; we are not solitary creatures, so to be able to go out and help others in my community and have my job support that is amazing,” says participant Alex Williams, Project Administrator. “Every volunteer event I have attended, I always come back feeling like I can do more. I talk about what I did with my family, which allows me to also teach my kids that helping your community is what good humans do.”

Here’s how Dwecksters made their mark in 2025:

January | True Ground Housing Partners People’s Pantry

We kicked off the year honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service. Our team partnered with True Ground Housing Partners’ People’s Pantry and worked alongside the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) to ensure our neighbors have access to nutritious food.  Dwecksters contributed to this vital community resource by greeting shoppers at check-in and restocking shelves with fresh donations. The afternoon reminded us that even small acts of service create ripples of positive change. “These activities have strengthened my connection to the community and reinforced my commitment to teamwork, service, and corporate responsibility,” said participant Julio Ponciano, Director of Maintenance Engagement & Learning at Dweck Properties.

February | Food & Friends

In February, we joined Food & Friends in its mission to deliver medically tailored meals to critically ill individuals across the DC metro area. Our team worked together in their kitchen, preparing and packaging meals with care and precision. Knowing we played even a small role in the 1.2 million meals this organization provides annually filled us with gratitude. It’s organizations like Food & Friends that remind us that nourishment goes hand in hand with healing. “Volunteering at two food banks this year was a testament to the incredible dedication of everyday heroes who work tirelessly to meet the basic needs of others,” said participant Sarah Cahill, VP of Learning & CX.  “It was a blessing to hear their stories and to tangibly support our neighbors, even if just for a couple of days.”

March | Women Giving Back

March left an indelible mark on everyone who participated. At Women Giving Back, we experienced an organization built on dignity, compassion, and respect. Their work providing clothing, diapers, and essentials at no cost to women and children facing crisis is nothing short of heroic. As we sorted and organized donations, we recognized that it isn’t just about meeting needs, it’s about restoring hope and confidence. We left inspired and deeply moved by their approach to serving others.

April | Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture

Spring found us at the Arcadia Center, where we got our hands dirty in support of sustainable, equitable food systems. Working at this beautiful farm, we contributed to their vision of connecting communities with locally grown, healthy food. From planting to preparation, every task reinforced the impact that thoughtful agriculture can have on health, equity, and environmental sustainability. Thank you, Arcadia, for showing us what it means to grow change from the ground up.

May | Chesapeake Bay Foundation Oyster Restoration Center

In May, we headed to the water to support a cause close to home – literally!  At the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Oyster Restoration Center, our team prepared oyster shells for habitat restoration, contributing to the ambitious goal of returning 10 billion oysters to the Bay. Working with our hands to protect this treasured ecosystem felt both humbling and empowering. It’s a reminder that environmental stewardship starts in our own backyard, and we’re proud to be part of protecting it.

June | Women Giving Back & Martha’s Table

We were thrilled to return to Women Giving Back in June, deepening our partnership with this remarkable organization. Our second visit reinforced our commitment to their mission and allowed even more team members to experience the meaningful work happening there. The impact of providing women and children with essentials with dignity continues to resonate with everyone who volunteers, and we’re already looking forward to our next opportunity to serve alongside them.

This same month, we also worked with Martha’s Table’s McKenna’s Wagon program to thoroughly sanitize a workspace, then prepare 300 sandwiches and nutritious snack bags for delivery to community members in need. “It was a humbling and rewarding experience, especially seeing how essential their work is as food assistance needs continue to rise,” said participant Chester Aycock, Property Manager at Quimby on 23rd. “Definitely a reminder for me not to take even the smallest things for granted.”

July | American Red Cross Blood Drive at Crystal Towers

This summer, we brought service directly to our community at Crystal Towers. Hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross, our residents and team members came together to donate blood and help maintain a stable supply for those in need. The room buzzed with positive energy and a giving mood. Between donations, conversations, and plenty of snacks, it was a perfect reminder that giving back can be as uplifting as it is impactful.

August | Habitat for Humanity & Northern Virginia Family Services

August was a particularly active month supporting two different organizations! 

First, we formalized our partnership with Habitat for Humanity by donating combination washer/dryer units from our apartment renovations. Instead of discarding functional appliances, we’ve sent nine units (and counting!) to the Habitat ReStore in Alexandria, where they’re sold to fund affordable housing construction. We’re already preparing our next batch of 9-10 units and are proud to ensure these resources serve families in need.

Second, our team members spent a morning at the Northern Virginia Family Services SERVE Hunger Resource Center in Manassas. We patched walls, applied painter’s tape, cleaned, and prepped the space for upcoming renovations. While the work was physical, the reward was knowing we were helping refresh a facility that provides so much support to the community.

September | National Landing BID Community Clean-Up

September brought us outdoors for the National Landing BID Community Clean-up. From Crystal City Metro Plaza to Crystal Drive, Dwecksters picked up litter and helped refresh our shared spaces. There’s something special about taking care of the neighborhood where we work and live. Clean, welcoming public spaces matter, and we’re proud to contribute to keeping National Landing beautiful for everyone who calls it home.

October | Latin American Youth Center Hope’s Closet

In October, we volunteered at the Latin American Youth Center in DC, supporting Hope’s Closet, a program providing clothing and essentials to young people in the community. Our team organized racks, restocked shelves, and refreshed the space to make it more welcoming. LAYC’s mission to empower youth through comprehensive programs resonates deeply with our values, and we were honored to support their work in such a tangible way.

December | Anne Arundel County Food Bank 

We closed out the year at the Anne Arundel County Food Bank, where cans, boxes, teamwork, and heart came together in the best way. Our team sorted and organized donated goods, packing boxes that would go directly to local households in need. It was the perfect way to end our year of service—working side by side to ensure families have access to food during the holiday season and beyond. Thank you to AACFB for hosting us and for the critical work you do every day.

As we look back on 2025, we’re filled with gratitude—for the organizations that welcomed us, for the communities that need us, and most of all, for the Dwecksters who showed up month after month to make a difference. Our commitment to Do What Matters and Take Care isn’t just something we say; it’s something we live through actions like these.

Here’s to another year of rolling up our sleeves, opening our hearts, and building stronger communities together. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!