10News honors Matt Reid, founder of the Adopt-A-Platoon program within the San Diego Chapter of National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) to reach out to the service men and women and their families.

Matt Reid and other members of NAIOP have been active in raising money and donating funds to many important causes through out San Diego for years. NAIOP decided to increase its interaction with San Diegans by establishing a Community Involvement Committee to help address real issues and needs of the community. Reid is currently chair of the Community Involvement Committee. When choosing a group to aid, he believed the military community was best due to their large population in San Diego. Since then, Matt has gained support for his organization through financial donations, personal outreach, events, and more. The main goal of Adopt-A-Platoon is to help with donations and also with a personal connection, compassion, and support.

Last spring, NAIOP adopted Marines and their families of Alpha Company, a group of 130 men stationed at Camp Pendleton. They hosted a pre-deployment party where they were able to talk to the Marines to learn what they needed. While they were overseas, NAIOPSD sent over cooling towels, vitamins, and Gatorade. At home, they sent Mother's Day cards and gifts to the wives. They also helped a family move and sent one wife to Japan so she could attend her father’s funeral. They hosted a party for the Marines in Perth, Australia, where they stopped for a few days after leaving the Persian Gulf. When they returned home, NAIOP members were there to give out Honey Baked Ham gift certificates so they could enjoy Thanksgiving dinner. Additionally, $40,000 was raised in a charity golf tournament hosted for Adopt-A-Platoon.

Currently, Matt and his committee are currently designing a program to help the previously adopted Marines transition into civilian careers. They will use the Southern California network of the NAIOP chapter members to help the Marines with jobs, training, mentoring and other life skills.

Others can donate to Matt Reid's organization by filing out a pledge form at www.naiopsd.org and also donating items that are useful to the Marines oversees.

For more information, please contact Karen Burges, Executive Director, NAIOP at 858-509-4110 or visit NAIOP.ORG.