June 2nd - 2015

Supporters of charities, shelters recognized

Many REALTORS® help families find the perfect home, but they also do a great deal of volunteer work to support charities that give shelter to the homeless and others in need. The Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation honoured various individuals and groups for their charity work.

Foundation Award winners

Many REALTORS® help families find the perfect home, but they also do a great deal of volunteer work to support charities that give shelter to the homeless and others in need. The Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation honoured various individuals and groups for their charity work.

Many REALTORS® help families find the perfect home, but they also do a tremendous amount of volunteer work to support charities that give shelter to the homeless and others in need.

Foundation Award winners

PHOTO CAPTION - FOUNDATION FELLOWS: Representing the “heart and soul” of the real estate profession, the following individuals were named as Foundation Fellows at the OREA leadership conference this year. From left to right: Dreena Gilpin, Allan Todd, Mike Stahls, Mark Lepage, Einas Makki, Jim Holody, Ann Hannah, Jason Fleming, Bill Coulter, Frank Binder, Ken Barrick, Tim Mattioli, Kim McKenzie and Liza Tallen. Not pictured: Theresa Kane, Dawn Kendrick, Brad Quinn, Erin Roberts, and Jack Shand.

Volunteer work done by REALTORS® that supports charities across the province was the focus of a slate of awards presented recently. The Ontario REALTORS® Care Foundation recognized individuals and groups at a luncheon ceremony during the annual conference of the Ontario Real Estate Association, held at Toronto’s Harbour Castle Westin Hotel.

Some of the foundation’s recipient charities are: Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers and Big Sisters organizations across Ontario, Collingwood Crisis Centre, YWCA Sudbury, Covenant House Toronto, Couchiching Jubilee House, Domestic Abuse Services Oxford, Community Living Mississauga, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa and the Regional Hospice of Quinte. These are just a few of the charities across Ontario that benefit from the efforts of REALTORS®.

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Foundation past president Hugh Foy, president Dreena Gilpin, and Spirit Award chair Elizabeth Wale were on hand at the luncheon to recognize supporters who have made a difference to the foundation and its supporters through their charitable efforts.

The foundation presented a total of 11 Spirit Awards, five to individuals and six to groups. In addition, 19 people were named Foundation Fellows for their volunteer efforts and financial contributions to the foundation.

“The Spirit Awards recognize significant contributions to the success of the foundation and/or to the advancement of its goal to assist members in supporting shelter-related charities in their communities,” said Foy. “This year’s outstanding recipients have supported the foundation in promotion, fundraising activities, their dedication to giving to shelter-related causes in Ontario, and their exemplary dedication to advancing the foundation’s mission.”

Individual Spirit Award winners were:

Bill Courtney, Windsor-Essex Association of REALTORS®, for promoting the foundation and its fundraising events over the years and his support of the Fellowship Award Every REALTOR® campaign.

Richard Hawkins, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Association of REALTORS®, for his years of participation and support of the motorcycle ride for charity, along with his work for local boards and associations to support shelter-related causes.

Mary Johnson, London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®, for the “significant difference she is making to shelter-related causes in Ontario, which supports the foundation’s mission.”

Cynthia Lee, Toronto Real Estate Board, for her successful efforts in gathering sponsors for her triathlon, which raised $6,100 and built awareness of the foundation and its important work. 

Tim Lee, Ottawa Real Estate Board, for his tireless efforts working with boards and associations to support shelter-related causes in Ontario, his dedication to OREB’s golf tournament, which raised $33,900 in 2014 for the foundation, and his promotion of the Every REALTOR® campaign, which raised $36,400 last year.

Group Spirit Awards were also presented at the luncheon. Six groups in the board/association and organization category were honoured at the ceremony. “The foundation was thrilled to receive submissions in the board/association and organization category this year,” Foy told the audience at the luncheon. The group recipients of Spirit Awards were:

Lawyer Done Deal – Thanked for being “a sponsor of the foundation for many years, helping to raise funds given out as grants to shelter-related organizations. It sponsored both the motorcycle ride for charity and the Jam with a Past President fundraiser every year since 2011.”

London & St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® - Commended as “a strong supporter of the foundation from the beginning, participating in its various fundraising activities and promoting those activities to other boards and association. LSTAR has participated in the Every REALTOR® campaign since its inception and has made good use of the foundation’s express grants program, contributing $49,700 in 2014 and $34,600 in 2015.

Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies – Recognized as “a sponsor of the foundation for many years, helping to raise funds given out as grants to shelter-related organizations. The company has sponsored the Jam with a Past President fundraising event every year since 2009.”

Royal LePage Real Estate Services – Commended as “a long-time sponsor and supporter of the foundation, helping to raise both funds and awareness for the foundation. It has sponsored the Jam with a Past President fundraising event every year since its inception in 2007.”

Stratus Data Systems Inc. – Honoured as “a long-time sponsor and supporter of the foundation, helping to raise both funds and awareness for the Ontario REALTORS® Care Foundation. It has sponsored the motorcycle ride for charity every year since the ride’s inception in 2006.”

Touchbase Real Estate - Praised as “a sponsor of the foundation for many years, helping to raise funds given out as grants to shelter-related organizations. Touchbase has sponsored the foundation’s Jam with a Past President fundraising musical event every year since 2009.

At the luncheon, Foy and Gilpin presented awards to honour individuals named as Foundation Fellows. These people “represent the heart and soul of the real estate profession,” said Foy. “This year, the new Foundation Fellows are joining an impressive group.”  The newly-named individuals join the 252 individuals who have been named Foundation Fellows since the program’s inception in 2001.

Nineteen people were named Foundation Fellows and recognized for “leadership, volunteerism and support for their communities” and for their generous financial contributions of a minimum of $1,000 to the foundation. Of those, 15 are volunteers and association staff within the real estate community. The remaining four are consultants from business who were speakers at the conference and who were recognized for their “tireless efforts in developing leaders who give back to the community.”

New Foundation Fellows are: Ken Barrick, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Association of REALTORS®; Frank Binder and Bill Courtney, Windsor-Essex County Association of REALTORS®; Wendy Elzner, Barrie & District Association of REALTORS®; Jason Fleming and Dawn Kendrick, Niagara Association of REALTORS®; Ann Hannah, Toronto Real Estate Board; Jim Holody, London & St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®; Theresa Kane of Keller Williams, Neighbourhood Realty, Brokerage; Mark Lepage, North Bay Real Estate; Einas Makki, Timmins Real Estate Board; Tim Mattioli, REALTORS® Association of Hamilton Burlington; Kim McKenzie, Guelph & District Association of REALTORS®; Brad Quinn of tng; Erin Roberts of Zzeem; Jack Shand of The Portage Group; Mike Stahls, Muskoka, Haliburton, Orillia - The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®; Liza Tallen, Kingston & Area Real Estate Association; and Allan Todd, Mississauga Real Estate Board.

Story by Mary Ann Gratton.

Read more about other OREA awards and honours presented by at the conference

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Editorial Policy: The REALTOR® EDGE newsletter is produced 11 times a year by the Ontario Real Estate Association. The newsletter aims to provide practical and useful news and information about the real estate industry to members of the association. The opinions expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of the publisher. Submissions from the real estate community are welcome, including letters to the editor, opinion pieces, events and news. The newsletter reserves the right to edit, based on space restrictions and/or suitability, and/or to refuse submitted material for inclusion in the newsletter without reason. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Contents are copyright of the Ontario Real Estate Association. 


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