All Stories

Homerun Sweepstakes with the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center

2010-04-26T14:24:18Z

Evansville Area Association of REALTORS® participates in the Homerun Sweepstakes with the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center. Volunteers were able to present a check to Easter Seals in the amount of $30,800 at their Annual Telethon in April, 2010.

Evansville Area Association of REALTORS® presenting check to Easter Seals

EASTER BUNNY GETS HELP FROM THE REALTORS®

2010-04-01T13:46:15Z

Jeff Newton of Kokomo Urban Outreach

The REALTORS® Association of Central Indiana (RACI) Community Service Committee collected Easter goodies for the Kokomo Urban Outreach Ministries Easter Project. Kokomo Urban Outreach is a network of churches, organizations, and individuals who have a heart for hometown missions.
REALTOR® members and affiliates were asked to donate items for the ministries to provide Easter Baskets to area low income children.

The RACI Community Service committee collected Easter candy, socks, small toys, personal items, and monetary donations. Mindy Willis, Chairman of the Community Service Committee was very pleased with the response from REALTOR® and Affiliate members.

Jeff Newton from Kokomo Urban Outreach commented that “This is a very fun and successful event and the children and their parents are so very appreciative for the help.” “We are so blessed to have the help we receive from RACI.”

With the help of the community the Kokomo Urban Outreach Ministries provided over 900 baskets to the community this year.

REALTOR® MAGAZINE'S GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARDS SEEKS ENTRIES

2010-03-09T16:37:21Z

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is now accepting applications for the 11th annual REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards. The awards recognize REALTORS® for their commitment to volunteer service.

The five (5) winners will be announced in November in REALTOR® Magazine. Each winner will be recognized at the 2010 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans and receive travel expenses to the conference, national media exposure for his or her community cause, and a $10,000 grant for the charity. In addition to the winners, five honorable mentions will each receive a $2,500 grant.

Good Neighbor Awards entries must be received by Friday, May 21, 2010. For more details and a nomination form, call 800-874-6500, visit www.REALTOR.org/gna, or see the March issue of REALTOR® Magazine.

ELKHART BOARD AUCTION HELPS SALVATION ARMY

2010-02-08T20:07:23Z

Auction in Progress: Emmon Schmucker of Schmucker Realty & Auction is the Auctioneer as Beth Comer of Metropolitan Title plays the role of Elf assistant.For more than 30 years, the Elkhart County Board of REALTORS® hasMajor Steven Woodard, Elkhart Salvation Army; Gary Decker, Elkhart County Board of REALTORS President; Captain Jason Pollom, Goshen Salvation Army sponsored a Holiday Charity Auction. Each year proceeds from the auction are given to local charities and this year the Elkhart and Goshen Salvation Army were the recipients of the auction proceeds.

This year, more than 240 REALTORS® and Affiliate members attended the event at the Matterhorn Banquet and Conference Center in Elkhart on December 10, 2009.

The concept of the auction is to raise funds for local charities and members are encouraged to attend and bring an item to be auctioned either in the “live” or silent auction. Donated items this year included an original 1929 Plat book of Elkhart County, signed sports memorabilia, gift baskets, homemade pies, gift certificates, a fully decorated Christmas tree, and a host of other delightful donations. Just under $9,000.00 was raised during the auction and when the cost of the donated items is included in the total, the auction amount is close $15,000.

The funds will be sent to the Goshen and Elkhart Salvation Army and will go toward helping Elkhart county families in need.

METROPOLITAN INDIANAPOLIS REALTORS® DONATE $500K FOR HOMELESS HOUSING

2010-02-01T19:47:17Z

The philanthropic arm of the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORS® (MIBOR), The REALTOR® Foundation, has pledged $500,000 to revive a struggling urban Indianapolis neighborhood. Part of the larger Super Bowl Housing Legacy Project – which aspires to build, repair, or renovate 250-300 homes and units of affordable housing – the Foundation’s 10 percent contribution will help create 32 new housing units for families threatened by homelessness. The project will culminate in 2012 and will commemorate both the 100-year anniversary of MIBOR as well as the 2012 Super Bowl, hosted in Indianapolis.

The Foundation will work with the John H. Boner Community Center to build the homes, which the center will own, and will provide residents with support and services to help them establish and maintain home ownership. Over the next three years, volunteers from the Foundation and other Near Eastside community organizations will work together to rehabilitate or build these units while maintaining the diverse culture the neighborhood has long enjoyed. The result will be a neighborhood of choice for residents of all income levels.

“Philanthropy is our mission at the REALTOR® Foundation – it’s not a new venture for us,” Regina Jones, 2010 president of the REALTOR® Foundation said. “But it’s exciting to be part of a long-term giving and volunteer project. We know that we’re creating a piece of history for the community, not to mention providing a life-changing opportunity for numerous local families fighting back from homelessness. It’s the best possible way we could mark both our MIBOR Centennial, and our city’s first-ever Super Bowl.”

Each year, the Foundation looks to support the vital work of organizations that serve people displaced because of domestic violence, natural disaster or those affected by economic hardships that have made them temporarily homeless. In the past seven years, the REALTOR® Foundation has provided $500,000 to local homeless service providers throughout central Indiana. However, the Foundation envisioned a more permanent gift to mark 100 years of REALTOR® community involvement.

To learn more about the MIBOR’s Centennial, including Building a Living Legacy visit www.MIBOR100.com

RACI HELPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

2010-01-05T16:34:10Z

Renee Chandler, RACI Community Service helps to decorate for the Coordinated Assistance Ministry RACI provided the decorations for the annual event. CAM is the only homeless day shelter in the Kokomo area.REALTOR® Association of Central Indiana’s (RACI) Community Service Committee helped to decorate for Coordinated Assistance Ministry’s (CAM) annual Christmas Party as well as sponsored a Christmas Party at the Boys and Girls Club. Ken McGreevy played the role of Santa Claus for the party which was also attended by several members. The members included Cindy Korporal, Linda Robinson, Barb Messersmith, Tracey Riddle, Richard Nichols, Shannon Decker-Young, Kathy Herbort. Several family members of those who worked also came to help out.

The children decorated cookies and Christmas ornaments, made jewelry and Christmas cards, play games, and read books. Each child received a goody bag from Santa.

A special thank-you to Moe's, Bank of America, Mutual Bank-Baldwin branch and Boys and Girls club staff, to members and affiliates who donated cookies and gifts and to those who worked the party.

NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA REALTORS® DELIVER DONATIONS

2010-01-04T18:21:32Z

Sarah Shaw-Realtor Associate, Joan Haugh-Executive Director, Community Services of Starke County, and Vicki Simoni-Broker/Owner, Preferred Group RealtorsMembers of the North Central Indiana Association of REALTORS® (NCIAR) recently delivered funds that were raised at the Association's 2009 Annual Christmas Party. A donation of $500 was made on behalf of the NCIAR’s Starke County Members to Community Services of Starke County as well as a donation of $227.50 to the Starke County Humane Society.
Sarah Shaw-Realtor Associate, Suzanne Crider-Director, Starke County, & Vicki Simoni-Broker/Owner, Preferred Group Realtors.

ELKHART REALTORS® ORGANIZE FOOD DRIVE

2009-12-30T21:31:08Z

The Elkhart County Board of REALTORS® has been a long time supporter of local charity organizations and this year was even more important to provide support due to the economic downturn. Many local charity organizations were forced to drop several critical programs due to a loss of funding and donations. To pick up some of the discontinued programs, Church Community Services stepped in. Church Community Services provides programs such as the Client Choice Food Pantry; Soup of Success, Emergency Services for families in need of assistance and several other programs designed to help individuals or families in need.

The Elkhart County Board of REALTORS® has organized food drives for Church Community Services in the past but this year the Board decided to initiate a six-month long food drive designed to help Church Community Services with the additional programs. It started with a food drive in July of 2009 where donations were collected donations both at the Board office and various events and meetings. The REALTORS® and Affiliate members of the Elkhart County Board rose to the challenge and generously donated hundreds of pounds of food, personal care items and other financial contributions.

Although this has been a difficult year for everyone, the members’ support of this program has helped provide relief for seniors and many families in the community. The Board is proud of its members and intends to continue providing assistance whenever possible.

NORTHWEST INDIANA REALTORS® CONTINUE A HOLIDAY TRADITION

2009-12-21T16:31:42Z

Gwen Conley, a recently retired REALTOR® with the Munster RE/MAX Realty Associates office, continues the Christmas tradition of contributing to the annual Christmas meal served at the soup kitchen of Hammond’s St. Joseph Church. Conley has been leading the effort for 20 years and with each passing year, more and more REALTORS® participate.

Conley frequents the after-Christmas sales when hats and gloves are on sale. Monetary donations from individuals and businesses are used to help cover shopping expenses, and a luncheon where volunteers wrap gifts and stuff goody bags is hosted by Herm and Kris Hoge at their RE/MAX office prior to the big event.

See more about this inspiring story in the Community Kudos section of REALTORS® Giving Back

NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® HELP OUT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

2009-12-15T19:41:46Z

This month members of the North Central Indiana Association of REALTORS® (NCIAR) continued their holiday tradition of donating to various organizations. The funds raised are equally divided among the counties represented in NCIAR’s membership (Marshall, Fulton, Starke and Pulaski Counties). One of the organizations receiving Shop With A Cop: Suzie Montalvo, Affiliate member from Beacon Credit Union, Kathy Alexander, Coldwell Banker Hometown Realty, Hurshel Hunter, President of the Plymouth F.O.P. Lodge 195, and Linda Jacobson, RE/MAX Oak Crest Realty.donations from the Association is the Shop With A Cop Program. Each year F.O.P Lodge 195 raises money to take kids in need on a Christmas shopping trip. Over the years local businesses and organization have joined the FOP in providing area children with the opportunity to get a new toys and warm clothing for Christmas. This year 326 children will receive gifts.

Also receiving money this year from NCIAR is the Marshall County Neighborhood Center, who has experienced a substantial increase in their client base this year as well as several local food pantries throughout Marshall, Fulton, Starke and Pulaski Counties.

Photos courtesy of Kathy Bottorff, reporter for WTCA Radio

Neighborhood Center: Suzie Montalvo, Affiliate member from Beacon Credit Union, Linda Jacobson, RE/MAX Oak Crest Realty, Sarah Hendrix from Neighborhood Center, Kathy Alexander, Coldwell Banker Hometown Realty, and Mary Yates, Association Executive NCIAR. Mary Yates, Association Executive