Season of Service: Misha Ezratti on Why Giving Back Defines True Success

For most people, the holidays signal the season for giving. For Misha Ezratti, president of GL Homes, giving is not limited to the holiday season and is woven into the fabric of GL Homes’ mission and his family values.

Misha believes true leadership extends beyond business success and into meaningful community impact. It isn’t measured solely by sales or growth, but by giving back and strengthening communities. This credence is reinforced in GL Homes’ philosophy that “homebuilding” extends beyond real estate; it’s about investing in people and families.

Under Misha Ezratti’s leadership, GL Homes has become one of Florida’s top luxury homebuilders, delivering homes to more than 100,000 families in its nearly 50-year history. However, it’s Misha’s reputation as a philanthropist, as well as GL Homes’ commitment to community building, that truly define the company’s success.

Misha has fostered a culture of giving across GL Homes through the creation of GL Homes Philanthropy, a company-wide initiative rooted in his vision of a more compassionate and supportive Florida.

During the holidays, this community impact becomes even more meaningful, as many vulnerable Florida families face unique challenges in experiencing the joy of the season.

The Meaning of Service

Guided by the values of compassion, responsibility and community instilled by his father, GL Homes Founder Itzhak Ezratti, Misha has shaped GL Homes as a mission-forward homebuilder. His family’s dedication to community activism has inspired Misha to remain steadfast in his belief that volunteerism fosters stronger relationships and more resilient communities.

Since becoming president of GL Homes, Misha Ezratti has dedicated his career to making a direct and sustainable difference to help Florida residents and communities thrive. He continues to set a standard for South Florida philanthropy, community building and corporate social impact, inspiring volunteerism across the company.

With Misha at the helm, GL Homes prioritizes philanthropy that meets people and families where they are, focusing on everyday needs that can make a direct and sustainable difference. The approach is not just about writing checks but about identifying practical and impactful ways to offer dignity, stability, opportunity and support.

GL Homes’ Culture of Giving

For years, Misha Ezratti, his family, GL Homes employees, and even the company’s interns have taken a hands-on approach to philanthropy, setting an example of corporate social responsibility across the Florida real estate sector and reinforcing GL Homes’ reputation for integrity and generosity.

GL Homes’ philanthropic efforts extend across a wide spectrum but focus on three pillars: breaking the cycle of homelessness, combating hunger, and supporting children and education.

Through long-standing partnerships with nonprofit organizations and charities encompassing housing initiatives, hunger relief, veteran support, education and more, GL Homes proves it is not only passionate about homebuilding, but community building. In every philanthropic effort, Misha Ezratti’s goal has remained the same: invest in people, uplift communities, and do the right thing.

Misha leads by example with a boots-on-the-ground approach, encouraging employees at all levels, from C-Suite executives to interns, to embrace this hands-on commitment to community service. Through its various initiatives and active volunteerism, the GL Homes team has enriched and transformed lives across Florida.

A cornerstone of GL Homes Philanthropy is the “Make a House a Home” initiative, which turns surplus building materials, appliances and furnishings into meaningful support for low-income families. Through partnerships with organizations like Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Gulfstream Goodwill Industries, GL Homes helps transform leftover inventory into opportunities for others transitioning from homelessness to independent living.

GL Homes’ housing-oriented philanthropy efforts also include the Good Night’s Sleep program, which was inspired by the simple idea that everyone deserves a comfortable place to rest. Through this initiative, GL Homes provides essentials like beds, blankets, and even laundry detergent to individuals and families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing.

Additionally, GL Homes has expanded its role in the fight against hunger, collaborating with food banks and nonprofits like Feeding South Florida and The Lord’s Place Meal Mobile to help deliver thousands of meals across the state. GL Homes has also been a dedicated partner of The Senator Philip D. Lewis Center in West Palm Beach, which provides essential services to help the community’s most vulnerable members get back on their feet.

Enriching the lives of underserved children is yet another key pillar of Misha Ezratti’s philanthropy and giving back initiatives. Through close collaboration with groups like the Boys and Girls Clubs, GL Homes has helped design and build playgrounds in neighborhoods across Florida as part of its Passion for Playgrounds Initiative. These bright, safe spaces give kids a place to run, play, and simply be kids while also strengthening the fabric of the surrounding community.

Making an Impact: Stories from the Field

Embodying GL Homes’ founding values, Misha Ezratti has rolled up his sleeves and engaged in hands-on volunteering efforts, prioritizing human-centered charitable partnerships and events from holiday toy drives and community build projects to local food bank.

During the 2025 holiday season, GL Homes partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delray Beach to bring joy to 180 children. The company sponsored a Thanksgiving turkey feast, prepared by Feeding South Florida, serving turkey, vegetables, cookies, and drinks.

More than 10 GL Homes volunteers, including employees and interns, helped serve the meal, creating a festive and memorable experience for the children and staff. This effort provided warmth, connection, and celebration for kids who might not otherwise experience a holiday meal at home.

Throughout the year, GL Homes also supports families through programs like “Making a House a Home”, Good Night’s Sleep, and playground projects. Earlier this year, Misha and his wife Jessica helped prepare meals for homebound seniors, while interns and employees distributed hundreds of meals to individuals experiencing homelessness.

These initiatives demonstrate that philanthropy at GL Homes is about more than donations. It fosters joy, dignity, and lasting community impact across Florida.

The Holiday Connection: A Season of Service

The holiday season is a time for reflection, gratitude, and generosity. For Misha Ezratti, it is also a time to see the tangible difference that giving back can make.

Programs like Good Night’s Sleep, “Making a House a Home”, playground projects, and holiday volunteering strengthen communities and create lasting memories. Seasonal efforts, including the Thanksgiving meal for children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delray Beach, exemplify the meaningful impact that GL Homes and Misha Ezratti bring to Florida families during the holidays.

For Misha and the GL Homes team, the holidays are an opportunity to reconnect with purpose. Philanthropy is not seasonal; it is central to the company’s mission and Misha’s leadership, shaping how GL Homes builds, gives back, and uplifts the communities in which they live and work.

Looking Ahead: Sustaining a Legacy of Giving

For Misha Ezratti and GL Homes, philanthropy is not seasonal; it is central to the company’s DNA and to Misha’s character. He defines true success by the lives touched, communities strengthened, and opportunities created under his leadership as president of GL Homes.

GL Homes has made a lasting impact on Florida residents and families facing hunger, housing insecurity, and other community challenges. As the company continues to set a standard of excellence in Florida homebuilding, it also maintains a year-round commitment to community building.

Driven by this steadfast dedication, Misha and the GL Homes team will continue making a difference in 2026 and beyond, empowering the very communities in which they build and live.

That is the holiday gift that keeps on giving.