Community Partnerships Make the Difference
The Food & Fund Drive was proudly presented by CELTIC Restoration Group, a 360 Fire & Flood Company, whose sponsorship and leadership helped bring the campaign to life. CELTIC’s commitment extended far beyond financial support by helping organize the drive, promote participation, and coordinate logistics throughout the event.
Special thanks also go to Itasca Bank, whose continued partnership and generous support helped maximize the impact of this year’s campaign.
The event would not have been possible without the dedication of volunteersJoe Schutzius of CELTIC Restoration Group and Michelle Scott of All American Exteriors, and the entire CAI Team, especially Ania Dreschler, whose countless hours coordinating collection sites, donation pickups, and event logistics ensured another successful year.
Supporting Local Families
This year’s donations benefited three outstanding organizations serving families throughout the Chicagoland area:
• West Suburban Community Pantry • Housing Forward • Schaumburg Township Food Pantry
Together, these organizations provide food assistance and essential resources to neighbors facing food insecurity every day.
The impact of the drive was immediate.
Cherelle Jackson of Housing Forward shared: “Thank you so much for organizing the recent food drive for CAI! Your incredible effort brought in nearly 100 boxes/ bags of food.
Because of you, we were able to provide 23 families with much needed pantry staples. One of our clients recently told us that the groceries she received for her family allowed her to pay an overdue utility bill without having to choose between keeping the lights on and feeding her kids.
Every single can of soup and box of pasta you collected directly eased the burden for the families we support in our community. We simply couldn’t do this without your partnership. Thank you again for your generosity and for making such a profound difference.”
Maeven Sipes of West Suburban Community Pantry added:
“The support from the CAI Food and Fund Drive is a wonderful reminder of what we can achieve when we stand together. This drive had immediate impact, helping us keep our shelves stocked and bringing nourishing food to families across our community. On behalf of everyone at West Suburban Community Pantry, and the neighbors we serve, thank you for your incredible generosity.”
The Spirit Behind the Competition
For many organizations, the competition became a catalyst for bringing employees together around a common purpose.
August Figliulo of RealManage reflected on his team’s experience:
“The RealManage team came together over the course of a couple of weeks involving all areas of our staff from the maintenance team, inspectors, assistants, CAMs, leaders, and even some of our communities. What started as a slow burn soon turned into an office-wide spectacle as we loaded our comically sized conference table with more food than it could handle.
We even had a member of our team solicit contributions after an all-staff meeting, go shopping in Indiana to maximize dollar value, and return with a literal truck full of food. The sentiment in our office during the food drive was electric and contagious. The help we provided was tangible and rewarding. We look forward to participating in the CAI 2027 Annual Food Drive and beyond!”
For FirstService Residential, giving back reflects the organization’s core values.
Jen Yang shared:
“Giving back is at the heart of who we are at FirstService Residential. Our guiding principle, First Serve Others, extends beyond the communities we manage and into the neighborhoods where we live and work. Watching our teams come together with such generosity and compassion to support this food drive was truly inspiring. Every donation represents neighbors supporting neighbors, and we’re incredibly proud of our associates for making such a meaningful difference.”
Looking Ahead
The remarkable success of this year’s Food & Fund Drive demonstrates what is possible when the community association industry comes together with a shared purpose.
From community managers and maintenance professionals to business partners, residents, sponsors, and volunteers, every contribution helped transform a goal of 25,000 meals into the equivalent of 132,000 meals—a record-breaking achievement that will positively impact thousands of lives across our communities.
Thank you to every management company, sponsor, volunteer, and donor who participated. Together, you proved that the CAI community doesn’t just build stronger associations—it builds stronger communities.
We can’t wait to see what we accomplish together during the 2027 CAI Food & Fund Drive.
cai-illinois.org • 847.301.7505 | 45
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