At the property level, examples include…

• The Equinox, Manchester Village, Vermont teamed up with a local art teacher to host an Empty Bowls event. Equinox associates worked with local potters to craft handmade bowls which were filled with savory soups from the Equinox kitchen, then distributed to attendees for a $10 donation, bringing the community together and raising money for local programs.

  
  

• The Westin Philadelphia has an ongoing relationship with Philadelphia school district’s Olney High School, providing Life Skills mentors for developmentally disabled students. Supervised projects in stewarding and purchasing help students learn critical social and pragmatic work skills. The rewards--self-esteem, respect and growth--are reaped by both students and associates

At the corporate level, examples include…

• HEI has sponsored building three affordable homes with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fairfield County including both a substantial financial gift and weeks of on-site construction labor, donated by an extensive team of HEI corporate volunteers.
  

• Annually, HEI participates in Westport, Connecticut’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and in 2006 was one of the top ten teams that led the fundraising efforts. HEI also annually participates in Western Connecticut’s MS Walk.

• By consistently providing healthy returns for the institutions that invest in our managed funds, HEI helps these University endowments underwrite programs and facilities that enable the best and brightest young minds to flourish.