Philanthropist M. Patrick Carroll's Charitable Ventures Support Communities

Philanthropist M. Patrick Carroll has made his mark as a real estate executive. Now, he has set his sights on giving back to the local communities where he lives, works, and calls home. Michael Patrick Carroll, founder and CEO of the eponymous CARROLL real estate development firm, has stepped up his philanthropic commitments during the last year. Though the real estate mogul has remained committed to helping others since his early life, he has started several initiatives designed to support those most in need as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturns have ravaged communities.

Increasing Local Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic

From the onset of the pandemic in 2020, M. Patrick Carroll realized that many families were suffering from food insecurity and hunger. He also recognized that health care workers on the front lines needed support.

In Atlanta, Michael Patrick Carroll responded directly, making donations to at least 10 area food banks. Carroll also arranged for meals to be sent to area hospitals, sharing appreciation for the medical professionals working around the clock to help patients. With CARROLL’s headquarters in Atlanta, M. Patrick Carroll pledged more than $100,000 in support for hunger prevention to support local families.

He also supported food banks in communities where CARROLL owns an ARIUM Living property. Those communities included Atlanta, Broward City, Dallas, Denver, Charlotte, Charleston, Houston, Jacksonville, Orlando, Raleigh, and Tampa.

As a hands-on CEO and business leader, Michael Patrick Carroll recognized early on that many CARROLL employees played pivotal roles during the pandemic. He provided gift cards to onsite employees who were deemed essential workers to help them with ongoing expenses during this challenging time.

Issuing a Challenge to Other Philanthropists

His work during the pandemic led innovator M. Patrick Carroll to challenge other wealthy individuals, CEOs, and business leaders to follow suit. He started a social media campaign, #billionaireschallenge, to urge philanthropic participation from others with the capacity to support those in need. Carroll launched the challenge by committing $100,000 to the cause, while urging others to follow his lead.

Food scarcity has become a major cause for philanthropist Michael Patrick Carroll, who noted that the pandemic has hit some of the most vulnerable populations the hardest. As schools have been closed, poor students have also lost access in some cases to their only reliable source for healthy meals.

“I’m a father of 3 young boys, so the thought of families being unable to provide for their children by no fault of their own pushes me to act. Those who are able to do so are morally obligated to support our essential workers on the front lines,” he noted in announcing the challenge. “They’re risking their lives each day to provide care for those infected with COVID-19. As a survivor of the disease, I can attest to its severity, and meals are a small consolation for the care they’re providing.”

Inspiring Youth to Pursue Paths to Success

Entrepreneur Michael Patrick Carroll’s rise to success is a story of self-made success. He bought his first property shortly after graduating from high school and has parlayed that success into a massive real estate portfolio with $5 billion in assets under management.

In 2004, M. Patrick Carroll was 24 years old when he quit his job as a clothing representative. His dream? Starting a real estate company from the ground up. Carroll had been living in Atlanta for four years at the time. His work allowed him to travel and learn the nuances of growing one’s own business.

In 2005, CARROLL started by developing villas in Highlands, North Carolina, multiple residential developments in Atlanta and Greenville, South Carolina, and a retail shopping center in Greenville. From there, the fledgling entrepreneur began buying and selling multifamily and retail properties in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

From there, the business boomed and Michael Patrick Carroll was on his way to his real estate success story.

As a role model, Michael Patrick Carroll wants to impart some of the lessons he’s learned during his career to younger people. He is particularly focused on organizations that support healthy habits, supporting the personal growth of young people, and the importance of hard work. Carroll wants to be an example for younger people to show that there are many different paths to success, with hard work, determination, and commitment being common themes.

“It’s about the fire, and wanting to be the best, I want to show people, especially kids, that you can make it your own way,” he said.

A leader in the local community, Michael Patrick Carroll serves on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay, and the Jesuit High School Foundation in Tampa, two organizations close to his heart and aligned with his philanthropic priorities. M. Patrick Carroll has provided scholarships for students at his former high school, Jesuit High School in Tampa, and regularly provides motivational speeches for young people, sharing his story, emphasizing wellness, and hoping to serve as an inspiration for others.

“I don’t fit the bill of a typical CEO, and I want to show kids that you do not have to do things the traditional route, and can still make it,” he said.

Deep Philanthropic Commitment

M. Patrick Carroll’s philanthropy extends well beyond the work he has done to support those affected by the pandemic. He supports more than 50 charitable organizations worldwide.

As an industry thought leader, Michael Patrick Carroll has served on the National Multifamily Housing Council and the Urban Land Institute and is active with Habitat for Humanity. M. Patrick Carroll also encourages CARROLL employees to be involved in philanthropic pursuits, both as a company and individually. He has described the corporate culture as feeling more like a big family.

Carroll has worked hard to instill a sense of community among his CARROLL colleagues, encouraging them to deliver on high standards of performance within the company and within their communities.

A Blessing to Individuals in Need

Blessing Bags are one example of the way the CARROLL corporate culture has had an impact locally. At ARIUM, its multifamily community management brand, employees coordinated a Blessing Bags program. Property management teams at each ARIUM community collected critically needed items, such as water bottles, nonperishable food, hand warmers, socks, and travel-size toiletries.

The Blessing Bags were then distributed throughout the community to those in need. Bags were attached to fences or stapled to telephone poles, making it easy for individuals in need to pick them up. Other Blessing Bags were donated directly to local organizations. Specialized Blessing Bags were built to meet the needs of local animal shelters’ wish lists.

In addition to the local ARIUM support, CARROLL made a corporate contribution of $15,000 in supplies to help the local communities build their Blessing Bags.

“We are extremely proud of our ARIUM communities as they work to give back to their local neighborhoods,” Michael Patrick Carroll said. “This has been a difficult year for everyone, and it’s more important than ever to reach out to those in need. We are happy to support their philanthropy efforts, both during the holiday season and beyond.”

About CARROLL

CARROLL holds in excess of $5 billion in managed assets. The company owns more than 30,000 commercial and residential properties across the United States, largely on the East Coast and Gulf Coast. Established in 2004, CARROLL has acquired more than $7.6 billion in assets and has sold more than $4.2 billion in assets. The company, on behalf of its institutional partners, principals, and private investors, has developed more than $200 million in properties.