Tuesday, September 6, 2011

30 Tenants, Staff at Northbridge Centre in West Palm Beach, FL Form Freedom Walk & Run 5K Team



WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In a show of support for military families and first responders, a Gaedeke Group LLC-sponsored team of 30 tenants and staff from Northbridge Centre (top left photo) will participate in Operation Homefront-Florida's Freedom Walk & Run 5K to commemorate Sunday's 10th anniversary of 9/11.

The Florida chapter's second annual run in West Palm Beach passes the doorstep of the 288,233-sf Northbridge Centre at 515 N. Flagler Dr., just steps from the Palm Beach County Judicial Center and Central Business District. Gaedeke is covering all registration fees and providing team T-shirts for Northbridge Centre's 30 entrants.

"They're not just writing a check. They're going to do it too. That's what speaks to me," says Christopher R. Jette, partner in Goldstein & Jette, P.A., who presented the idea to Gaedeke on behalf of an associate in the firm who's training for a half marathon run.

"They were on top of it right out of the gate. Our firm is pleased to partner with the Gaedeke Group to participate in the Freedom 5K event. We take pride in seizing an opportunity to give back to the community." Five of the firm's six staff members will be participating in the run.

Bertie L. Russo (middle left photo), Gaedeke's property manager at Northbridge Centre, says she was "very happily surprised" by the strong showing from the tenant base and the Dallas-based owner's staff.  "Gaedeke is always trying to support the community and get our tenants involved," she adds.

Leading the pack will be Gaedeke's Kirk Fetter (middle right photo), vice president of leasing.  In addition to Gaedeke's entire staff, Northbridge's 5K team includes the law firms of Casey Ciklin Lubitz Martens & O'Connell; Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronroth;  and Wicker Smith O'Hara  McCoy & Ford plus Allegiance Security.

The Freedom Walk & Run 5K route begins at the City Commons, turns north on Flagler Drive and reverses at Curry Park for the return leg. Last year, the 5K drew 300 runners, but more than 400 are expected to participate in Sunday's event, according to Megan Lysaker, director of development for Operation Homefront of Florida.  The run gets underway at 7:30 a.m.; on-site registration starts at 6:30 a.m.

"Operation Homefront Florida greatly appreciates Gaedeke Group’s generosity and support of our 2nd annual Freedom Walk & Run 5K," Lysaker emphasizes. "It's a good way to bring the building's tenants


together.  We are excited that Northbridge tenants have the opportunity to be sponsored by the  Gaedeke Group and participate in an event that raises funds for Florida's military families and wounded warriors while commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11."

Since 2002, Operation Homefront has deployed more than $100 million to military families. In 2010, the 501(c)(3)not-for-profit organization's 4,500 volunteers have fulfilled 167,348 needs for military families and 434,348 needs since its inception.

The organization is funded solely by individuals, corporations and foundations; it receives no government funding. Operation Homefront has 23 chapters serving 32 states, with the national office providing services to the remaining states.

Additional information about the Florida chapter is available at www.operationhomefront.net/florida.

Contacts:
Kirk Fetter, 561-515-7407
Bertie L. Russo, 561-835-0100



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