The Center for Leadership and Service at the University of Florida created the Purpose 20 Awards to honor the contributions made to Alachua County by local for-profit businesses. These 20 businesses provide invaluable cash and in-kind donations while supporting the community with efforts in environmental sustainability, serving as role models for change within the community and encouraging staff members to give their time to local causes. All of this work often goes unrecognized. The Center for Leadership and Service hopes that by recognizing these businesses, we inspire others through their example and demonstrate that business is about more than making a profit — it is also about having a purpose to build a better community.
“Making the communities we do business in better places to live and work is not only a priority, but is engrained deep within our roots.”
– Nick Banks, managing director and founder
Front Street has been invested in the community since opening its doors in 2002. The company’s mission is to impact the community, clients and industry by doing commercial real estate differently. Its vision is to serve a select group of owners and users of commercial real estate by leveraging the experience of its specialized, collaborative team and to impact the community through investment in cause-related organizations. On behalf of its clients, Front Street donates 10 percent of all brokerage revenue to cause-related organizations like the United Way of North Central Florida to invest in community needs. Front Street is actively involved efforts such as the American Heart Association, the Child Advocacy Center, Tyler’s Hope, March of Dimes, the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation and ElderCare of Alachua County. Front Street builds its team around an individual’s values and how they fit into the team’s culture of bettering the communities where it does business. The company established an INVESTED Committee to impact communities more efficiently, with a goal to better understand which areas of the community need the most help and to recognize and execute creative ideas for impacting and educating others about those in need.