Usually for a milestone anniversary, you want to look back at the good times. But sometimes it’s important to look back at the hard times, too. Take Santana Row: what started as a massively ambitious project in 2000 opened in a state of near-disaster in 2002. Just a month before it was slated to open a fire tore through the halls of its largest structure, doing $130 million in damage and destroying 538,000 square feet of retail and housing space. It nearly left the owners’ plans in shambles, but despite the odds the center went on to be extremely successful.

So this month, ten years on, the center is looking back and counting its blessings. One of those blessings is the San Jose Fire Department, which faced down the largest structure fire in San Jose history on that fateful day. The center is dedicating its 10th anniversary celebration to the department, contributing to its Public Education and Community Relations Trust.

Many of Santana Row’s retailers are dedicating 10% of their sales over the weekend celebration to the trust. Others are celebrating by offering shoppers food and drink specials, deep discounts and more. Left Bank Brasserie has created a specialty cocktail called “Noces D’Etains” which translates into “10th Anniversary.” Pizza Antica is taking toy donations for the San Jose Fire Department and offering up free dessert in exchange.

Is there a better way to celebrate good fortune than to share it with those who helped you get there?

Have you heard about Operation Shower? Babies”R”Us has; the retailer has kicked off a new partnership with the non-profit that has started with a $100,000 donation. Operation Shower provides joyful baby showers for military wives.

Sloane Lucas, director of Corporate Philanthropy for Toys”R”Us, explains it best. “Thousands of military wives each year experience the journey of pregnancy without friends and family nearby to provide support during what can be an overwhelming time in an expectant mom’s life. And, quite often, these women don’t have the opportunity to enjoy the tradition of a baby shower to celebrate this exciting milestone,” she said. “Through this new partnership with Operation Shower, Babies”R”Us is proud to assist the families of America’s armed forces by helping ensure that military moms-to-be are showered with joy while their husbands are so courageously serving our country.”

Along with the donation, organized through the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund, the company is using its platform to help its customers learn about the cause and to encourage them to donate. By visiting its Operation Shower sub-site, shoppers can either donate money directly or buy items off the specially-curated Operation Shower baby registry. Expectant moms can also add donations to the charity to their own registries.

Have you heard of the Safer Places initiative? We’re betting not – it’s only been adopted by a few municipalities in the UK to date. But it deserves to be known (and put into place) everywhere.

The Potteries Shopping Centre has recently signed on to the Stoke-on-Trent initiative. As a result, it will be affixing “Safe Place” stickers to each of its entrances. This is a signal to local people with disabilities that the center is a place they can get assistance if they need it, particularly if they feel distressed, vulnerable or scared while they’re out in the community.

People who join the initiative receive a Keep Safe card, listing the names and contact numbers of two friends, guardians or family members who can be called on for assistance. The Potteries can thereby use that contact information to help a shopper or local in distress.

It’s a small thing that requires a minimal investment of time or funds, but it could make a massive difference in the comfort and freedom of disabled individuals. If that doesn’t sound like a worthy cause to get behind, what does?

Paul Francis, the center’s general manager, says “We are really pleased to be included in the scheme. We pride ourselves in being at the heart of the community in the City Centre and this is just another way we can help our customers enjoy their shopping experience.”

Hazelton Lanes is no stranger to luxury. The Toronto, Canada shopping center currently welcomes over 2 million visitors a year, many of whom are women in the “cosmopolitan elite” or “urban uptown” demographics – if you’re unfamiliar, think middle class to wealthy urban women with plenty of disposable income.

That local population is growing rapidly, however, and Hazelton Lanes doesn’t intend to be left behind. So the center is embarking on a large-scale transformation to re-establish the centre as an all year round community hub for Bloor-Yorkville residents and surrounding neighborhoods.

Part of that transformation involves working with center retailers. Changes will include a major expansion of Whole Foods with the creation of a 50,000 square foot flagship food emporium to be complete with gourmet take out and dine in facilities, and the incorporation of TNT Woman & TNT Blu Concept into a two-level boutique department store.

The other major aspect of the renovations will be the creation of a new centre piazza, to be named the “Oval Square”. The Oval Square will give shoppers a haven in which to relax and unwind. Along with some striking new architectural features (including a balustrade with mezzanines and balconies, and a boldly designed curved stairway), the Square will feature a variety of seating options – soft seating, lunch bars, community tables and free-standing tables, all within range of wi-fi access. It will also feature a permanent raised platform that will spend time as both a seating area and a stage for special events such as celebrity appearances, fashion shows, cooking demonstrations and community events.

Here’s a bit of good news: Steve Andrews, deputy centre manager at Hildreds Shopping Centre, has been recognized for all the hard work he’s put into this local community.

Andrews is the man behind the fantastic Christmas displays that Hildreds puts on each year. We covered them once before here. Now he’s been granted Skegness’ ultimate accolade for his continual hard work and dedication to his home town.

He was conferred as an “Honoured Citizen” of Skegness by the town council in October. It’s the highest honor the council bestows, and Andrews is only the 12th person to be so recognized.

Andrews was chosen because of his involvement with local non-profits, including The Lions and The Butterfly Hospice; the joy he brings to visitors to The Hildreds with his handmade displays; and his help with the creation and restoration of a model lifeboat for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute. The lifeboat has raised in excess of £500,000 for the institute since it was built in 1992.

Congratulations, Steve. It sounds like a very well-deserved accolade.