JDRF Mid-Atlantic to Host 35th Annual Real Estate Games
in Events, Fundraising, Volunteer
JDRF Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Games:
35 Years of Sporting Excellence and Fundraising for the Fight against T1D
JDRF Mid-Atlantic is excited to announce that the 35th annual JDRF Real Estate Games will take place on June 6, 2024 at American University in Washington, DC. The 2023 event brought together commercial real estate professionals, industry leaders, and community supporters in record numbers – 86 sponsors, 2,400 participants, and more than 500 volunteers and spectators – to demonstrate their passion for finding a cure for type one diabetes (T1D). The day of spirited competition generated over $824,000 in support of JDRF.
We are thrilled to share that the 2024 Mid-Atlantic JDRF Real Estate Games Honorary Chair is Ryan Miller, Managing Principal of the DC Metro Region for Cushman & Wakefield. He is joined by event Co-Chairs Brian Alvarez of MOI, Robin McConnell of AREP, and Kasara Smith of Cushman & Wakefield.
Ryan Miller serves as Managing Principal of Cushman & Wakefield’s Greater Washington DC area. In this role, Ryan is responsible for optimizing operational and financial performance, and supporting the organization’s occupier and investor clients through the thoughtful alignment and integration of complementary disciplines and resources across the enterprise. He is also actively involved in numerous charitable, civic, and business organizations throughout the Washington, DC area, including the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of JDRF.
Ryan has been involved with the Real Estate Games for the past 10 years, first while a broker at CBRE, then as a market leader at Newmark, and now as the managing principal and market leader at Cushman & Wakefield. In the past decade, he has participated in track and field events, chair hockey, weightlifting, cycling and, during the virtual games, the leadership karaoke/lip sync challenge.
“It is both humbling and inspiring to serve as the Honorary Chairperson of the JDRF Real Estate Games in 2024, the 35th anniversary year! Year in and year out – despite market dynamics, pandemics, and economic cycles – our industry friends and colleagues show up (and sometimes show off). We commandeer for a day the grounds of American University as we engage in friendly competition in support of an exceptionally worthy cause. I’m excited for what ’24 has in store, and I look forward to seeing you in June!”
Brian Alvarez leads the business development team at MOI, the DMV’s number-one office furniture solutions provider. As a former college athlete, the JDRF Real Estate Games is a chance for Brian to tap into his competitive spirit and have fun outside of work. Most importantly, the funds raised through the Games support critical research and make a tangible difference in the lives of those with type 1 diabetes. This is Brian’s second year serving as an event co-chair.
Robin McConnell, VP Office Operations at AREP, joins Brian as an event co-chair for the second year. Robin is also the director of AREP Cares, the company’s philanthropic program, and is passionate about serving her community. With almost 20 years of CRE operations management experience, Robin describes herself as the person who “makes sure the place doesn’t burn down”. Robin brings her competitive spirit and philanthropic passion to the Games and is determined to break last year’s fundraising records to improve the lives of all those affected by T1D.
Kasara Smith is currently Director of Asset Services at Cushman & Wakefield and she has been the co-captain of Cushman & Wakefield’s JDRF Real Estate Games since 2022. She believes in the power of the real estate industry to bring a cure to T1D through participation in the Real Estate Games.
JDRF Real Estate Games is an annual event sponsored by the DC area commercial real estate community to benefit the Mid-Atlantic Chapter. The Games were founded by Adam Singer, Vice Chairman of Savills and Director Emeritus of the JDRF International Board, in 1990 and have become one of the top industry events of the year. The Real Estate Games grew to include JDRF’s New York City and Chicago chapters in 2017. Over the past 34 years, the commercial real estate industry has joined together to raise $13 million in funds for life-changing T1D research, and we know we can do even more in this exciting anniversary year.
More information on how to get involved as a sponsor and participant can be found on the JDRF Real Estate Games website. We also invite you to connect through our social communities:
JDRF Mid-Atlantic Chapter Website
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About JDRF
JDRF is the leading international nonprofit fighting to cure type 1 diabetes (T1D) while also helping those with T1D live healthy lives today. Supported by hundreds of thousands of donors, JDRF raises, invests and drives more funds to T1D research than any organization in the world. As a result, JDRF has played a key role in major T1D advances – drug, device, cell research – that have improved lives and brought us closer to our ultimate goal of a cure. JDRF is mission-driven and serves as an aggressive advocate and educational support for the T1D community. JDRF has staff and volunteers across the United States, has five international affiliates, funds research in more than 20 countries and supports insulin-aid efforts in the US and around the world. Visit jdrf.org to learn more.