Sperry Van Ness International PARTNERS WITH BETTER WORLD BOOKS TO HELP FUND GLOBAL LITERACY
IRVINE, CA – October 20, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Sperry Van Ness International has partnered with Better World Books, a leading social enterprise that collects and sells books online, in support of its mission to help fund global literacy. Through the partnership, Sperry Van Ness International will provide clients with a socially responsible outlet for books in their communities.
“Sperry Van Ness International is committed to looking for ways of improving our business that embrace corporate social responsibility. Our partnership with Better World Books demonstrates Sperry Van Ness International’s support of the company’s mission and our commitment to being a true value-added partner in the real estate community,” said Kevin Maggiacomo, chief executive officer and president of Sperry Van Ness International.
Better World Books began as a book drive and quickly grew into an online bookstore that integrates social responsibility into its core business model. The for-profit social enterprise funds global literacy initiatives through the resale of used books and protects the environment through its book recycling program, preventing millions of books a year from being discarded into landfills.
“As a B Corporation, Better World Books must adhere to rigorous standards for being a socially responsible and environmentally-friendly company. Sperry Van Ness International’s core covenants are closely aligned with the core values of Better World Books, which was a key factor in our decision to partner with them,” added Maggiacomo.
Today, Better World Books is a fast-growing enterprise that employs nearly 400 people and sustains social and environmental responsibility as a core element of its business strategy. They were named one of the “Top 25 Responsibility Pioneers” by Time Magazine and voted “Most Promising Social Entrepreneur of the Year” by BusinessWeek. The founders at Better World Books believe that every book has lifelong value and the potential to help can change the world.
About Sperry Van Ness
Originally founded in 1987 as Sperry Van Ness, Sperry Van Ness International began its national expansion efforts in 2001 and has become one of the largest and fastest-growing commercial real estate brokerage franchisors in the industry, with more than 700 advisors in over 145 locations. Sperry Van Ness was recently recognized as a “Top 10 Brand in Commercial Real Estate” by the annual Lipsey Company survey. Sperry Van Ness affiliates deliver results for clients through a proven business model that immediately markets every one of its clients’ properties to the entire brokerage community as well as its own investor data base. Based in Irvine, Calif., the organization provides brokerage, tenant representation, consultation, asset management, property management, leasing, accelerated marketing and auction services. Sperry Van Ness affiliates represent clients in billions of dollars annually in office, multifamily, retail, industrial, self-storage, hospitality and land transactions. For more information, visit www.svn.com.
About Better World Books
Better World Books is a for-profit social enterprise that collects and sells books online, matching each purchase with a donation, book for book, and with each sale generating funds for literacy initiatives. With more than eight million new and used titles in stock, Better World Books diverts books from landfills by conducting book drives on thousands of college campuses and libraries. Since its founding in 2003, the company has raised over $10 million for libraries and literacy, donated over 5 million books, re-used or recycled over 57 million books and achieved 29,000 tons of carbon offsets through carbon balanced shipping. For more information, visit www.betterworldbooks.com.
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Contact:
Megan Morales
Sperry Van Ness
714.273.2472
