Nov
16
It’s that time of year again, and no, it’s not just the impending holiday season that I am referring to. It’s time for REALTOR® Magazine’s Good Neighbor Awards to be announced at the NAR conference in Las Vegas. Each year it astounds me as to what these REALTORS® are able to accomplish in their “spare time”. But then again it really shouldn’t surprise me at all. Keep in mind that what the following people were able to accomplish in order to make the world a better place for all is done outside of their “day jobs” that are not always confined to your typical banker’s hours.
- Virginia Ferry’s time, money, and heart have focused on MorningStar, which now shelters and cares for more than 10,000 homeless and struggling men, women, and children annually. The mission helps adults re-enter mainstream life by counseling substance abusers, feeding the hungry, teaching basic skills such as cooking and using a computer, and providing job training and placement. It also reaches out to the community through clothing, furniture, and food drives. Way to go Virginia! (REALTOR® Magazine 11/01/07)
- Phil Landis has volunteered for the Veteran’s Village of San Diego for years and used his leadership and financial skills to strengthen the organization to secure over 75 income streams and build their net worth from about $1.5M to over $16M! Way to go Phil!
- Patrick Moore founded Harvest of Haiti, a nonprofit humanitarian outreach program staffed almost entirely by Moore and Pat Kut, a good friend, that medically treats close to 3,500 people per year. Through donations raised by Moore it has enabled the program to buy a building in the village of Anse Rouge that has been transformed into an orphanage, now home to 32 children. Harvest of Haiti also has provided surgery free of charge in the United States for five Haitian children born with deformities. In addition, he solicited the King Benevolent Fund, a nonprofit Christian organization, to provide up to $275,000 worth of donated antibiotics and other medical supplies for each trip. Way to go Patrick! (REALTOR® Magazine 11/01/07)
- Carol Reza is a real estate salesperson, ordained minister, and founder of Bridge of Faith, the nonprofit organization she started in 1995 to support emancipated foster children and women trying to rebuild their lives after being released from prison. In 2003, Bridge of Faith purchased a 22-room, three-story colonial revival house and turned it into a residence for women. The residence, called H.O.M.E. — which stands for Home Opportunity Meets Emancipation — can accommodate up to 12 women, with the typical resident remaining for about nine months. Way to go Carol! (REALTOR® Magazine 11/01/07)
- Bert Waugh Jr., 64, founder of Transitional Youth, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, outreach, and support to young people who otherwise would be living on the streets. Initially, the organization raised funds to support other local agencies helping homeless youth. Today, Transitional Youth helps kids directly through an outreach center and two group homes in Portland and one in Vancouver, Wash. Way to go Bert! (REALTOR® Magazine 11/01/07)
I say it really shouldn’t surprise me at all because whenever there is a local tragedy or cause, a national emergency or an international crisis it’s the REALTORS® who are there time and time again.
Take for instance on the local level at my association, the Monterey County Association of REALTORS®, last year we as an association we donated approximately $96,000 to local charities, our scholarships fund for local high schools and other housing causes. This year in a “down market” we still contributed an estimated (because the year’s not over) $58,000 including $5,000 sent to the CAR Disaster Relief Fund for the Southern California Fires.
The California Association of REALTORS® via their Disaster Relief Fund has sent more than $250,000 to Southern California to help support the victims of the wildfires which destroyed an estimated 1,700 homes and structures. (CAR Website) Also through the association’s Housing Affordability Fund my association was able to contribute $100,000 to the Community Housing Trust, a local non-profit organization formed to help through various programs those who would not otherwise be able to afford homes.
The National Association of REALTORS® also sprung into action after the tsunami in Eastern Asia donating $1.5M to Habitat for Humanity to rebuild housing for those who survived the tsunami. (REALTOR® Magazine, 04/01/05)
Then there is the unforgettable Hurricane Katrina. All told, REALTORS® and friends have contributed more than $17 million to various Gulf Coast relief efforts, with $5.6 million of that going to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation for the Gulf. NAR also embarked on a campaign to build 54 Habitat for Humanity homes in the area, which represents one from each state and territory. (REALTOR® Magazine, 10/01/06) In addition we brought approximately 25,000 people to New Orleans for our national conference this time last year which was a much needed shot in the arm for local businesses. We even had the opportunity to volunteer to help build homes for Habitat for Humanity while we were there. How appropriate is that?
Need I go on…I don’t know of any other “profession” who has organized to donate to as many causes as we have. So no matter what your personal business was like this year you can be proud of the fact that REALTORS® are still out in force taking care of the communities we live in. And you can also look at your personal lives and realize things could be much worse. We are so lucky to be in the profession we are in. We have the ability to make more in one transaction than most people make in a year of working every single day. We have the ability to help shape people’s lives and give them the American Dream of home ownership. We have the ability to build wealth for our clients based on sound advice and negotiation skills. So let’s just go do it! Have a great rest of the year and even better 2008!