Greystar Joins Forces with The Florida Center for Early Childhood

$31,000 in unrestricted support and volunteer efforts reflect a commitment to community impact.

(August 7, 2025) When Greystar—a global real estate company active in the Tampa Bay region—rallied its professional network this summer, the result was a $31,000 unrestricted gift to The Florida Center for Early Childhood. The funds were gathered through outreach efforts led by Greystar team members, who engaged colleagues, collaborators, and industry contacts to contribute to the cause.

The result? A remarkable show of support that went beyond the check. In addition to raising funds, Greystar sent volunteers to The Florida Center’s Sarasota campus for a day of hands-on work to help refresh the grounds. Team members rolled up their sleeves to trim hedges, plant new greenery, and bring renewed vibrancy to the outdoor spaces used by children, families, and staff.

“This was a true team effort,” said Florida Center board member Jeff Woodin, SVP Commercial Team Lead Centennial Bank, whose outreach to Greystar inspired the partnership. “To see a company mobilize both their network and their workforce in support of our mission is incredibly meaningful. It’s one of the most generous and thoughtful acts of community engagement I’ve seen in my years on the board.”

That spirit of generosity is part of Greystar’s broader mission. A leading global real estate firm with expertise in property management, investment management, development, and construction, Greystar’s donation and hands-on involvement reflect the company’s commitment to local impact.

Donovan Dean, development associate at Greystar, helped spearhead both the fundraising and volunteer effort. “This partnership reflects Greystar’s commitment to local impact and community investment—values that align closely with The Florida Center’s mission to help children and their families thrive,” says Dean.

Dr. Kristie Skoglund, CEO of The Florida Center, emphasized how meaningful it is when companies step forward in both practical and personal ways.

“We’re deeply grateful to Greystar—not only for the financial support, but for showing up in person to lend their time and care,” said Skoglund. “Their involvement reinforces the power of partnership—and what it means to invest in a stronger future for children and families.”

Photo captions:

• Team effort from the ground up: From left: Kristie Skoglund (CEO), Jeff Woodin (board member), Kate Reed (chief philanthropy officer), Charmian Miller (CFO/COO), Denise Grolly-Case (director of strategy and quality improvement), and Dillon Kelly (facilities and maintenance manager) joined Donovan Dean, Greystar’s development associate (center) and other Greystar volunteers during a day of giving and gardening at The Florida Center for Early Childhood’s Sarasota campus.
• Planting with purpose: Greystar and Florida Center volunteers gather beneath one of several newly planted trees as part of a two-day landscaping effort.
• A space refreshed: New greenery, potted plants, and shaded picnic areas now greet families and staff thanks to volunteer efforts led by Greystar.
• Digging into community service—one flower at a time. A Greystar volunteer helps refresh the grounds at The Florida Center for Early Childhood’s Sarasota campus as part of a two-day hands-on effort supporting children and families.

About Greystar

Greystar is a leading, fully integrated global real estate company offering expertise in property management, investment management, development, and construction services in institutional-quality rental housing. Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, Greystar manages and operates over $300 billion of real estate in nearly 250 markets globally with offices throughout North America, Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region. Greystar is the largest operator of apartments in the United States, manages over 1,000,000 units/beds globally, and has a robust institutional investment management platform comprised of nearly $78 billion of assets under management, including over $35 billion of development assets. Greystar was founded by Bob Faith in 1993 to become a provider of world-class service in the rental residential real estate business. To learn more, visit www.greystar.com.

About The Florida Center for Early Childhood

For more than 45 years, The Florida Center for Early Childhood has been the leading provider of therapeutic services, early education, and healthy development for young children in southwest Florida, offering a seamless delivery of services for the whole child and their family. Today, the agency is nationally recognized for its early childhood expertise in various specialties. The Florida Center provides developmental therapies, mental health counseling, Starfish Academy preschool, the Healthy Families home-visiting program, and the state’s only Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Clinic, with locations in Sarasota, Orlando and Pensacola.