On April 2nd, the real estate sector got together to take part in ‘Light it up Blue’. This global campaign is to raise autism awareness and express solidarity with those who live with this condition. The real estate sector marked the beginning of Autism Awareness Month by illuminating almost 100 buildings across Poland in blue.
The ‘Light it up Blue’ campaign was established in 2011 by American organisation ‘Autism Speaks’. The Synapsis Foundation then brought the campaign to Poland, engaging advisers, managers and investment funds on the Polish real estate market. This year, these companies include: Knight Frank, Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE Polska, Savills, Colliers International, Polski Holding Nieruchomości, NAI Estate Fellows, BNP Paribas Real Estate, Golub GetHouse, JLL Poland, EPP, Globalworth Poland Real Estate and ‘Eurobuild CEE’ magazine.
“For the third time, the commercial real estate sector is supporting the Synapsis Foundation by taking part in the global ‘Light it up Blue’ campaign, which makes April an important month for people who live with this condition and their families. I’m happy that our involvement will help to increase awareness and to show solidarity with this section of society. Office buildings, shopping centres and hotel buildings are all part of our daily lives, therefore it’s essential that they are open to all users,” comments Daniel Bienias, the managing director of CBRE Poland.
Karol Smoląg, the marketing and communication director of real estate investor EPP, adds: “EPP has been involved in activities aimed at increasing public awareness of autism for some time. This year the Q22 office building in Warsaw, which we manage, as well as our shopping centres in Kielce, Kłodzko and Włocławek, were all lit up in blue. In Włocławek and in Zamość together with our partners we also marked World Autism Awareness Day by launching a special educational programme that included integration games.”
A number of Polish real estate luminaries were also personally involved in Eurobuild TV’s promotional film for the campaign, appearing in blue t-shirts emblazoned with the Synapsis Foundation’s slogan for the event: ‘Don’t be green about autism in April. Be blue!’ Real estate companies can also support the Foundation by donating 1 pct of their annual income tax for the diagnosis and therapy of children with autism.
“Despite the fact that the signature colour of our company has always been red, blue is equally close to our hearts, especially around April. One of the mottos of the Synapsis Foundation this April is ‘Light. Educate. Support’ – and our organisation strives to contribute in each of these areas. As usual, and in agreement with the buildings’ owners, we took part in the ‘Light it up Blue’ campaign. On Autism Awareness Day we encouraged our employees to express their solidarity with those on the autistic disorder spectrum and their loved ones by wearing blue clothing. I will also mention another of the things we did this year – a charity lottery that we held at the beginning of April in which the prizes were donated by our team,” said Marta Tinc, a partner, the head of human resources at Knight Frank Poland.
