Focusing on community needs

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Roughly a month ago Morgan Properties, which operates in 15 states, decided to give a portion of residents’ May and June rents to a local hospital and a foodbank battling the coronavirus pandemic.

In Rochester, residents chose Rochester Regional Health and Foodlink as beneficiaries of the Morgan Cares initiative. The company expects to donate more than $500,000 across communities in the United States. 

In addition to Morgan Cares, the company in May showcased Hometown Heroes, a social media series recognizing employees, residents, vendors, and local emergency personnel. These individuals were lauded for their efforts to help others. 

Based in King of Prussia, Pa., Morgan Properties is an apartment management and investment firm. It owns more than 300 multifamily apartment communities. Locally, the firm has a presence in the city and suburbs including Webster, Fairport and Brighton.

Jason Morgan

Rochester Beacon posed a few questions to Jason Morgan, principal of Morgan Properties, to learn more. His responses are below.

ROCHESTER BEACON: What is Morgan Cares? Why did you decide to launch this initiative?

JASON MORGAN: Morgan Cares is a program created in partnership with our valued residents across our entire portfolio of 300 apartment communities and 75,000 units to support local hospitals and food banks as they serve in combating (the) COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the 15 states that Morgan Properties operates, we will be donating a percentage of each resident’s May and June rent to their choice of a local hospital or food bank with contributions expected to reach over $500,000 in funding to give back to these organizations that need it the most.

As a family business, caring is a trait deeply rooted within our company culture, and we are passionate about giving back to the communities we serve by raising funds and awareness for important causes through our ongoing Caring. Sharing. Giving initiative. Through the extension of this initiative, Morgan Cares was implemented to address the PPE shortages at local hospitals and the hunger issues affecting people impacted by COVID-19. It is our hope that in some way, our donations will help the local organizations and brave community members continue their remarkable service. 

ROCHESTER BEACON: Your company announced $500,000 in donations to local organizations. What organizations in Rochester received funds? How did they meet the criteria?

MORGAN: For our apartment communities that are in the Rochester area and surrounding regions, the residents are able to choose between Rochester Regional Health, the leading provider of comprehensive care for Western New York and the Finger Lakes region, or Foodlink, an organization whose goal is to end hunger and build healthier communities in Upstate New York.

When deciding the hospitals and food banks who would benefit from Morgan Cares, we asked each of our regional teams across the 15 states where we operate to choose one local hospital and one local food bank that need critical funding as they continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.    

ROCHESTER BEACON: Morgan Properties also started Hometown Heroes, a social media effort. How does Rochester feature in those? What has the response been so far?

MORGAN: Hometown Heroes is a social media series for the month of May where we recognized employees, residents, vendors, and local emergency personnel going above and beyond to help others, give back, and serve on the front lines during the pandemic. Each week, four individuals were featured by sharing their stories on our social media channels.

Our first feature included Jennifer Ruetz, a porter at The Venue Apartment Homes in Rochester who goes above and beyond to keep the community disinfected and safe at all times. She continues to showcase a top-level customer standard and dedication every day by just offering a simple smile, a warm hello or even holding and opening the door for a resident. Across the board, the feedback has been positive and heartwarming. At unprecedented times like these, we like to acknowledge and thank the brave individuals who take care of our communities when they need it the most. 

ROCHESTER BEACON: In launching both these initiatives, what has Morgan Properties learned about the Rochester community during this crisis?

MORGAN: Being fairly new to the Rochester community, Morgan Cares has assisted Morgan Properties in giving back and furthering our connection to this city. We recognize these are trying times for Rochester, and we are here to extend our support to our frontline workers, residents, and community. 

As we continue to face new challenges every day, some things remain the same, like our commitment to helping others. If this crisis has taught us anything, it is that everyone must do their part for humanity and that we are all in this together. Giving back to our local communities will remain a top priority for Morgan Properties post-coronavirus. 

Smriti Jacob is Rochester Beacon managing editor. All coronavirus articles are collected here.

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