Apr 15, 2020
Mark Spain Real Estate is honored to support our first responders, especially during these unprecedented times that we are going through! One of Mark Spain Real Estate’s values is to lead with a servant’s heart. The Mark Spain Foundation was formed in 2016 in an effort to make a difference in our local communities. We partner with organizations to support families, veterans and our local communities.
Healthcare workers and first responders are facing an overwhelming demand for their expertise during the coronavirus outbreak. On top of that, they have the same everyday concerns, needs and responsibilities every other family in America has right now—childcare, homeschooling, paying bills, grocery shopping and keeping everyone healthy with social distancing.
The Mark Spain Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Mark Spain Real Estate, saw the potential to help.
“It’s important we care for the people who are taking care of us during this time,” explained Mark Spain. “First responders and healthcare workers are fighting so hard to keep everyone safe. They should not have to worry about who will take care of their children while doing this life-saving work.”
Mark Spain Real Estate has a long affiliation with the YMCA. The Company annually fundraises to provide children access to programs including summer camp, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. When Mark Spain learned of the YMCA’s efforts to provide childcare for healthcare workers and emergency responders on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis, Spain knew his company had to be involved and was grateful for the opportunity to serve.
Spain redirected the efforts of the Mark Spain Foundation to ensure the company continued to serve the community. Firstresponderchildcare.org was created to help provide more than 1,000 children of first responders and healthcare workers access to daily childcare.
The YMCA of Metro Atlanta partnered with area hospitals, the Governor’s office and the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning to safely transition YMCA branch locations to deliver this childcare. Each center serves approximately 140 children, ages 0-12 depending on the facility, and will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to support caregivers’ needs.
Based on CDC guidelines for social distancing, children are in groups of no more than 10. The YMCA partnered with local hospital systems, health officials, and the CDC to implement strict safety standards at each location to check for symptoms and monitor temperatures of all participants. The Y is taking daily temperatures of both children and parents/guardians drop-off and pick-up.
The program costs $40 per day per child. Mark Spain Real Estate’s goal is to provide childcare for over 1,000 children. By reaching its fundraising goal, Mark Spain Real Estate and the YMCA will, in turn, help local hospitals stay fully staffed in their efforts to protect and care for our communities.
“These parents are heroes in our community who deserve our help,” said Mark Spain.
The YMCA mobilized its facilities and partners to create a fun and safe place for these children to grow and engage during this time.
There are currently seven YMCA childcare sites in metro Atlanta with five bus pickup sites around the region.
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