Colliers International San Jose Hosts 15th Annual Student Field Trip to Patchen Tree Farm

Dec. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Commercial real estate firm Colliers International hosted their 15th annual field trip for second graders to Patchen California Tree Farm in the mountains of Los Gatos. More than 40 volunteers from Colliers' San Jose and Redwood Shores offices made the trip to Patchen to welcome and host 200 second graders from Trace Elementary School. Trace is a Title 1 school with nearly 60% of its families living at the poverty level that has participated in the Colliers field trips since 2005.
   Colliers and Patchen launched the field trips in 1997 with Hester Elementary School, where it continued for seven years until Hester closed in 2004. Colliers followed the kids to Cory School, which closed the following year. Cory’s kids then transferred mostly to Trace Elementary, which has participated ever since. In the 15 years of the Colliers field trip, more than 1,100 trees have been donated to families that may not have been able to afford a Christmas tree otherwise.
   “This is our favorite time of the year,” said Colliers’ Managing Partner, Jeff Fredericks. “There is such a great need during this time of year and being able to give back to these kids and their families is truly rewarding. In the summer of 2010, Trace Elementary was in the news for an arson fire that destroyed the school library and 19 classrooms. We are pleased to see how the community rallied to restore and rebuild Trace. We are happy to be part of that effort.”
   The field trip started with two busloads of kids filing into groups of five, each group with their own Colliers chaperones. They were introduced to the owner and founder of Patchen California, Jim Beck, who mesmerized the kids with stories of Mountain Charlie McKiernan and the grizzly bear that took a four-inch handful of Mountain Charlie's skull but failed to kill him. After learning how the trees are planted and grown, each group headed out into the tree farm and cut down trees that Patchen donates to needy families at Trace
   “During one of the field trips many years ago, a little boy came up and grabbed my leg and wouldn't let go,” said Jim Beck. “He asked if he could come live with me. I told him I would love to have him, but that his parents would be very sad. Later, I learned that the young boy’s mother was in jail and his father was nowhere to be found, so he lived with his grandmother. That renewed my commitment to use this farm to help these kids.”
   As each group ventured back with their tree, they were welcomed with milk and cookies. Afterwards, each child got to plant his or her own Redwood seedling and these potted seedlings traveled home with the kids where they learn how to water and feed them until mature enough to be planted outside.
   With this project complete, the second graders were paid a surprise visit by Santa Claus himself. The children serenade Santa and the Colliers volunteers with Christmas carols until it's time for Santa to get back to his reindeer and for the kids to get back to school.
   Over the years, Colliers has hosted more than 1,800 second graders at Patchen California. For the kids, it is one of the highlights of being a second grader at Trace. For the Colliers volunteers, it is a perfect way to welcome the holidays and get into the spirit of the season. “The field trip to Patchen Tree Farm is a highlight of the year for second graders, their teachers and their parents,” said Therese Beaver, former second grade teacher and current Instructional Coach. “The folks at Colliers and Patchen do a wonderful job making this visit a memorable adventure and experience for all."

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About Colliers International: Colliers International is the third-largest commercial real estate services company in the world with 12,500 professionals operating out of more than 500 offices in 61 countries. Colliers International focuses on accelerating success for its clients by seamlessly providing a full range of services to real estate users, owners and investors worldwide, including global corporate solutions, brokerage, property and asset management, hotel investment sales and consulting, valuation, consulting and appraisal services, mortgage banking and research. Commercial Property Executive magazine ranks Colliers International as the top U.S. real estate company and the Lipsey Company ranks Colliers International as the second most recognized commercial real estate brand in the world. For more information, please visit our Web site at http://www.colliers.com.