Community Partners Dedicate Computer Lab At Marshall Elementary

CHESAPEAKE
Students at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Chesapeake will benefit from a charitable donation presented by the Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc. for a new Technology and Literacy Center. The project was made possible also by The Louis and Mary Haddad Foundation, who provided a generous contribution to the United Way of South Hampton Roads and their United for Children campaign.

The Technology and Literacy Center lab was dedicated on Tuesday October 4 and features the latest Epson Smartboard, a total of 25 computers, as well as new furniture and custom-wrapped doors and windows. The lab will support 300 students on a daily basis with the main objective focused on offering literacy-based computer lessons to students reading below their grade level.

Each week, volunteer tutors will work one-on- one with students, helping them to improve language and reading skills including phonics, grammar, sentence structure, writing, vocabulary and reading comprehension. “This community-driven partnership is the first of its kind,” said Mark A. Johnson, SunTrust Vice President. “The uniqueness of the partnership is that it involves public and private partners, mainly Armada Hoffler Properties and the Louis and Mary Haddad Foundation, the United Way of South Hampton Roads, and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. The Chesapeake Police Department will also provide tutoring for students in all grades.”

Armada Hoffler’s association with Thurgood Marshall Elementary School began in the late 1980s when the Company’s headquarters were located in the City of Chesapeake. At the time, the Company’s Outreach Committee was looking for meaningful ways in which to serve the community and entered into a partnership with Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Today, the Armada Hoffler Outreach Committee maintains its multi-decade commitment to support Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, in addition to supporting about 10 different causes and organizations every year through fundraisers and volunteering.

“Mary and I are passionate about community service and I can proudly say the same for Armada Hoffler employees,” commented Louis S. Haddad, President and Chief Executive Officer of Armada Hoffler Properties. “While Armada Hoffler has expanded well beyond the Hampton Roads region, and in fact, beyond the state of Virginia, we remain committed to serving the community which we call home and feel certain that this new Technology and Literacy Lab will make a positive difference in the lives of Thurgood Marshall students.”

“This partnership is a powerful example of our community coming together for the benefit of children and we feel very fortunate to be the recipients of the newest Technology and Literacy Center,” said Karen Lopez, Principal of Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. “This new computer lab will ensure that our students develop strong reading and comprehension skills, giving them the foundational tools needed to reach their full potential in life.”

Armada Hoffler Properties is a full-service real estate company with extensive experience developing, building, acquiring and managing high-quality, institutional-grade office, retail and multifamily properties throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. Founded in 1979 by Daniel A. Hoffler, the Company is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as “AHH.”

The Louis & Mary Haddad Foundation was founded in 1999 by Louis S. Haddad, President and CEO of Armada Hoffler Properties, and his wife Mary C. Haddad to empower those in need by developing and supporting educational projects designed to assist at-risk students. Since inception, the foundation has developed and funded hundreds of thousands of dollars to assist those in need in completing the necessary education essential for a productive life’s work.