Cleveland Clinic, its Construction Partners and Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation Support Neighborhood Cleanup

In early September, more than 30 volunteers spent their time cleaning up landscaping and yards for three elderly residents of the Fairfax neighborhood in Cleveland.

This neighborhood improvement effort was led by Cleveland Clinic in collaboration with Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation (FRDC) and many of the building and construction companies currently working on expansion projects for the health system’s main campus in Cleveland. These projects include building a new Neurological Institute building, expanding the Cole Eye building and constructing two new research buildings.

More than 20 companies provided volunteers for the project in an effort to give back to the community where they work. In a matter of hours, volunteers were able to clear out years of over-growth, something residents hadn’t been able to do on their own. The volunteers’ hard work led to the removal of four one-ton truck loads of debris from the yards. In addition to cleaning up yards, they were also able to meet the residents and neighbors and establish connections through meaningful conversations and service.

“Creating meaningful change in the community isn’t something we can do alone,” said Vickie Eaton Johnson, Cleveland Clinic Chief Community Officer. “As an anchor institution, our role is to collaborate with other stakeholders, such as our construction partners and FRDC, for the benefit of our neighbors. The volunteers appreciated the opportunity to connect with residents and have a tangible impact through this project.”

The clean-up event is just one of Cleveland Clinic’s collaborations with FRDC on projects that aim to improve the health and well-being of the Fairfax community and surrounding areas. The two organizations teamed up with Meijer and other partners to open Fairfax Market; brought Aura at Innovation Square, a modern mixed-market-rate apartment development, to the neighborhood; and supported Medley, a 196-unit apartment complex in the Fairfax neighborhood.