BALTIMORE, MD (February 3, 2016) – The St. John Properties, Inc. team, which was participating in the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge for the first time, consisted of nearly 100 employees and family members — which ranked as the fourth largest group — and raised more than $20,000 in donations at this weekend’s annual fundraiser at Sandy Point State Park.

“We were initially approached by Special Olympics of Maryland to host their mascot, a thirty by forty foot inflatable polar bear, at one of our business parks to promote the annual Polar Bear Plunge,” explained Edward St. John, Founder and Chairman of St. John Properties. “We immediately said yes, but decided that we could also support Special Olympics through advertising and raising funds on their behalf. Our employees embraced the event and took our participation to the next level. It became a tremendous team-building experience and great fun for a worthwhile cause. When St. John Properties becomes involved with any project, our employees always react with a passion to make a difference and leave a positive mark.”

The cause was also personal for Sean Doordan, Vice President, Acquisitions for St. John Properties, whose four year old son, Sean Jr., has Down Syndrome. “As a co-captain of the team, I was also personally motivated to support the cause given the substantial impact participating in sports had on me in shaping my life,” Doordan said. “The experience provided confidence, a strong work ethic, an understanding of the importance of working together, and much more. Knowing there is a platform in place to provide those very same opportunities for my son is tremendously reassuring. I am inspired by my son every day. It was also humbling for me and my family to experience such outpouring of support from co-workers and strangers, all raising money for a great cause.”

St. John Properties, headquartered in Baltimore and among the largest commercial real estate development companies in Maryland, also donated space on four electronic message boards throughout the area and hosted the inflatable Polar Bear Plunge mascot at one of its projects to lend support. Founded in 1971, the company owns and has developed more than 17 million square feet of R&D/flex, office, retail and warehouse space in Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit sjp.mu9b0uf9-liquidwebsites.com.