Peterson Family, of Peterson Companies, Donates $500K to Various Organizations in the DMV

Peterson Family, of Peterson Companies, Donates $500K to Various Organizations in the DMV

Many know Peterson Companies as the owners of Downtown Silver Spring and Rio Lakefront. They also own the Milestone Center in Germantown, which is home to Home Depot, TJ Maxx, and more, in addition to popular nearby properties like National Harbor among others.

In Montgomery County, the company has donated specifically to Manna Food Center- a company that strives to eliminate through food distribution, education, and advocacy.

Press release below:

As a growing number of families in the Washington, D.C. region struggle with homelessness and food insecurity, one local family is stepping up to help. The Peterson Family Foundation is donating $500,000 to organizations throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland that have mobilized to help those in need. Up to $300,000 will be given this year with the balance being given the following year. The Peterson Family Foundation was created through the generosity of Milton and Carolyn Peterson. Milton Peterson is also the founder of Peterson Companies, one of the oldest real estate companies in the D.C. area. The company develops and manages a large number of retail, commercial, residential and mixed-use properties.

Since the inception of the Peterson Family Foundation in 1997, the foundation has directly contributed and helped to raise millions of dollars for a diverse list of organizations with missions that the Peterson family supports.

“Giving back to the communities where we live and do business is part of our family’s DNA,” said Lauren Peterson, president of the Peterson Family Foundation. “We are extremely proud to support so many worthwhile organizations at this critical time of need.”

Organizations receiving this latest round of support include, in Virginia: Northern Virginia Family Service (Fairfax County); Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William and Haymarket Food Pantry (Prince William County); Loudoun Hunger Relief and the Ampersand Pantry Project (Loudoun County). In Maryland: Manna Food Center (Montgomery County); Stand Up & Deliver and United Way (Prince George’s County.)

In addition to the financial support, Peterson Companies and its properties throughout the region, (including Fairfax Corner, Downtown Silver Spring, Rio and National Harbor,) will leverage its social media channels to create awareness for these organizations and encourage others to join in giving on Giving Tuesday (Dec. 1.)

The Peterson family is actively involved with the family foundation and the entire family is engaged with non-profits in the D.C. region as well as nationally and internationally. Many family members sit on multiple boards. In addition to organizations listed above, current and past affiliations in the D.C. region include George Mason University, INOVA Health System, Gleaning for the World, Northern Virginia Family Services, Teach for America, Venture Philanthropy Partners and Youth for Tomorrow. Through Gleaning for the World, the Peterson Family Foundation worked with local farmers and food distributors to create the Million Meals Program in Prince George’s County, Md. The program provided one million meals a year, for three years, to local churches and food banks to help families with the least access to consistent and fresh food.

For the Peterson family, philanthropy is more than financial support. Each family member sits on multiple non-profit boards and all the organizations they support share the family’s core values for helping others.