2023 Winter Issue - 30

PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT
How ULI Givers Evolve and Grow
Mary Hager, executive director, Greystar
" You reach different phases as your life
moves on, and I think we all eventually
recognize the ability to give back and where
that can have the greatest influence, " says
Tom Toomey, chairman and chief executive
officer of UDR Inc., who is co-chair of the
campaign with Abbey. " We all arrive at different
points on that cycle, but we progress
through that phase of getting back to the
things we care about. "
One example of that evolution is Ty
McCutcheon, president and chief executive
officer of residential development firm
Third Cadence, who started making annual
contributions to the ULI Foundation after
joining a product council a decade ago.
McCutcheon, who has reached the Governors
Society level ($100,000 to $249,000
in lifetime contributions), says he has been
inspired by other members' generosity, but
also sees giving as a way to pay it forward.
" I have benefited immeasurably from
Robert Byron, chairman and co-CEO, Blue
Vista Capital
the professional network and friendships I
have built through my involvement in ULI
as well as the exchange of ideas, lessons
learned, and the wisdom of others who
have grappled with similar problems, "
he says.
McCutcheon's mode of giving has
evolved as well. He recently made a major
unrestricted gift, which helps provide ULI
with flexibility in meeting future challenges.
" As the new chair of CDC [Community
Teri Frankiewicz, SVP and chief operating
officer, Crown Community Development
28
URBAN LAND WINTER 2023
Development Council] Blue [Flight] and
considering the focus on expanding participation
in the Governors' program, I
thought it was important to demonstrate
my personal commitment to the work of the
organization, " he explains in an email. " I
believe there is an important role for both
designated and unrestricted giving to the
Foundation. In my case, I wanted to support
the mission of the Foundation broadly
to ensure its ongoing strength and vitality
in the future. "
Giving to Causes
Robert Byron, chairman, co-chief executive
officer, and cofounder of Blue Vista Capital
Management, also has grown as both a
member and a donor since joining ULI
in the early 1980s and rising through
leadership roles at ULI Chicago. One motivation
to donate has been ULI's role in
using the built environment to help cure
societal ills.
" I recently decided to increase the
level of my giving, " Byron says. " I did that
because there are enough things that ULI
does that thematically are consistent with
things I think are important. " For example,
he says, " I have a strong interest in diversity
in our industry. That resonated with
me, and now I have a way I can do that. "
Mary Hager, an executive director for
global investment management at Greystar,
has also evolved into a cause-oriented
giver. While she is motivated in part by the
benefit she has gained from the product
council program, she is also influenced by
her belief in the importance of diversity,
equity, and inclusion (DEI).
" DEI has always been on my list of priorities, "
Hager says. " It's not a particular program
that interests me as much as weaving
a DEI focus into all of our programs. " She
hopes to see ULI become " an example of
diversity for the real estate industry
to emulate. "
Teri Frankiewicz, senior vice president
and chief operating officer for Crown
Community Development, who has been
involved in ULI for 25 years, says the networking
contacts she has developed have
been vital to her success in the business.
But the donor has also come to see ULI as
CROWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLUE VISTA CAPITAL
GREYSTAR
2023 Winter Issue

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2023 Winter Issue
