Real estate executive blends business sense, compassion
Who: Todd Linden, chief acquisition officer at Miami-based real estate investment firm Advenir, was named chairman of the board of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, the Daviebased nonprofit that grants the wishes of children who have life-threatening medical conditions.
Why this matters to the community: Medical professionals and our wish families confirm that a wish fulfilled is often a turning point in the family’s fight against a child’s illness. Having served this organization in a variety of roles, I believe I’m the right person as chair during an important time in our chapter’s history. We’ve recently granted our 10,000th wish and staged our most successful fundraiser, the Inter Continental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball.
Resume
Education: Bachelor’s degree, with emphasis on finance and marketing, from Florida State University
Engagement: Served on the board of the Young Entrepreneurs Council at Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
On the board
Top goal: To have a greater fundraising and volunteer presence in Palm Beach, Lee and Collier counties. We recently received a $250,000 donation — enough to underwrite the cost of wishes for 50 children — from Hertz in the Naples area.
Challenge: We grant a wish every sixteen hours and an eligible child is referred to us every 12 hours, so the board and staff must remain focused on reaching and then making a dream come true for every child in our system.
On the side
Travel: Florence, Italy, will always have a special place in my heart. I spent time there studying abroad during college and returned a few years ago on a seven-night cruise I purchased at a Make-A-Wish event to propose to my wife, Sabrina.