Mill Creek Residential Wins NAA Excellence Award, Driven by Four Years of Annual Month of Service
Mill Creek Residential, a developer and manager specializing in rental housing across the U.S., has received an NAA Excellence Award in the #NAAGives category. The company credits this recognition, announced on June 17 at the National Apartment Association's Apartmentalize conference, to its annual Month of Service, a volunteer program that is now in its fourth year.
This year's Month of Service initiative, held throughout June, engaged Mill Creek associates nationwide to tackle basic needs such as food insecurity, shelter, and essential supplies. This volunteer program has become a key element of the company's philanthropic efforts.
The NAA Excellence Award acknowledges outstanding dedication to community involvement through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The #NAAGives Award specifically highlights management companies that implement philanthropic programs with a significant and lasting impact. Mill Creek's Month of Service has helped set this standard across its portfolio of 150 communities and over 42,700 rental homes.
Bill MacDonald, chairman, CEO, and president of Mill Creek Residential, remarked on the importance of community engagement, stating, "Giving back to the communities we serve is a core part of who we are at Mill Creek. This recognition from the NAA reflects the passion and dedication of our team members, whose efforts create real, lasting change for the people and neighborhoods we call home."
The Month of Service program invites associates to choose the company's annual charitable focus, with previous years addressing causes such as homelessness, at-risk youth, and mental health. Through various activities this year, associates participated in food bank drives, shelter support, and neighborhood improvement initiatives, with local offices appointing task force leads to ensure effective execution of projects tailored to community needs.
In addition to the Month of Service, Mill Creek offers every associate an annual paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) day for charitable activities. VTO participation surged from 13% in 2024 to 31% in 2025. Last year, associates logged over 7,300 volunteer hours, donated more than $72,000, and collected over 31,000 goods for distribution, reflecting an increase in community engagement compared to previous years.