I saw a flyer put out by an agent that read " Buy a house from me and Feed the Poor "
What he was proposing that he would donate a certain percentage of his commission toward the purchase of food for the local food bank.
We often see and hear about agents donating to favorite charities. National attention has brought an awareness to volunteering and helping in some way those less fortunate. There are many groups that bless others by volunteering
- Private fund raising groups
- churches and church groups do
- individuals take on the challenge and devote their time
There are as many charities as there are reasons for individuals to choose do these acts of kindness
now the question ....... How do our brokerage firms contribute to the community? or do the agents make a personal individual choice?
In my area of Lawrence County our Board of Realtors sponsor a few events throughout the year for the local charities ,
- An annual golf outing
- Night at the Races.
- members have volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans,
- The board awards a $ 500 Scholarship to a graduating senior for the winning essay
" What my community means to me "
I am not sure of the charity practices of the various companies in my area ....but I am aware of two. I don't have the entire detail of the following project but. 
A competing brokerage has as an individual office, very popular project titled a " Chow Chow " The agents prepare and donate the food to a pot luck style, buffet luncheon. They charge the public for the meal ticket and all the proceeds are donated to their sponsored charity. The office is a large office and since the food is donated the profit is all clear. Each office has their own " Chow Chow " over the years they have donated thousands of dollars to charity. The agents pull together, under the advisement and direction of their company, with the end result of doing good for some one else less fortunate
My company ( I know in detail ) Northwood Realty Services based in Pittsburgh has 35 offices in Pennsylvania and one in Ohio, .what we do as a group effort also contributing, thousand and thousands of dollars to charities
At our yearly Fall, Northwood Company Convention all the offices are responsible to donate a gift basket to be delivered the morning of the convention. They are displayed on tables, and tickets are sold at a silent auction. At the end of the convention day, winners are drawn.
This baskets create a lot of oohs and awes.....People wait in line to buy streams of tickets hoping they are the lucky draw.
The baskets are beautiful and all different some baskets have as much as $200 $ 300 to $500 worth of merchandise...everything from scratch off lottery tickets to gift card baskets to Steeler and Penguin baskets. ( tickets and signed memorabilia and collector items )
It is total fun for everyone and a ton of money made for charity. Our company matches the amount brought in by the baskets.
Therefore doubling the amount of the effort. Again a group effort that pays off big and everyone wins . Since one of my former businesses included a gift basket business...guess who is in charge of creating the basket?
Our small office has a group of generous givers and donated a value of both these baskets around $ 250.
We all are aware of the importance of helping others...we do it all the time in our Industry. Do you have any suggestions
that you are willing to share? It may just be the spark that inspires more giving and the awareness of volunteering and fund raising to help the unfortunate
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