Giving season - all year long
While it truly is inspiring to see the pictures with the super-sized checks being given to organizations by their benefactors, our Realtor spirit of giving is a way of life throughout the year. Although we have no way of knowing, nor should we, what our individual members contribute to our community in the way of cash. We can see their efforts as they remain active in their communities, attending and conducting fund raising events.
As an association, we host several events too and the proceeds from those are donated to others in our communities. Each of these events requires a commitment of time and resources from the members and affiliates who participate. Even in the worst of real estate markets many members generously open their checkbooks and clear their schedules to help others. We are in recovery mode now and we want to recognize the efforts of those active members that led to some significant contributions in 2013.
This past spring, we conducted a bowling tournament with the proceeds from entry fees donated to two worthy causes; the Humane Society and Special Needs Recreation. Even though it was a busy time of year, members cleared their calendars in support of these organizations and presented each with $363.87.
Our big annual event this summer, the Realtor golf tournament, netted more than $8,000 which was equally divided between Casting for Recovery, a support group for breast cancer victims that heals through the sport of fly fishing, and to Family Promise, which helps homeless and low income families achieve sustainable independence. Without an army of volunteers from our affiliates and Realtor members, who each give up a full day of their time, this event could not succeed.
Just this month we conducted our second annual Dash for Cash and raised $2,600 for the Community Action Partnership and the local food bank. Our Shoshone County members raised and donated another $300 for their local food bank.
We also reached out to help our schools, contributing $250 to the Post Falls Booster Club, $1000 to the North Idaho College Booster Club and $750 to Lake City High School.
We supported Tesh with a $2,000 donation. Tesh states its core purpose as providing choices and opportunities to people of all ages with disabilities to become independent, self-sufficient participants in the community.
We donated an additional $250 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society to assist in its homeless shelters and the many social services it provides to our community's needy. Another $250 was donated to Habitat for Humanity to assist in its efforts to provide low cost housing for disadvantaged families who need a hand up, not a hand out. Each Habitat homeowner must endure a rigorous qualification process and contribute "sweat equity" into the home they will occupy. Habitat has provided homes for 34 families in our area.
Aside from the efforts of our Association, you will find our members active in almost every civic and service group in the community. The $16,000-plus of these donations is just the tip of the donation iceberg that Realtor members contribute annually.
We wish everyone the best of this year-end holiday celebration and encourage each of you to look in you hearts and contribute to your favorite charity.
Trust an expert ... call a Realtor. Call your REALTOR or visit www.cdarealtors.com to search properties on the Multiple Listing Service or to find a REALTOR member who will represent your best interests.
Kim Cooper is a real estate Broker and the spokesman for the Coeur d'Alene Association of REALTORS. Kim and the Association invite your feedback and input for this column. You may contact them by writing to the Coeur d'Alene Association of REALTORS, 409 W. Neider, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 or by calling 208-667-0664