Let's Recognize Those Who Do Good Works

July 20, 2012 -- It has been said that laughter is contagious and so too is goodwill toward others. It is for this reason that the Toronto Real Estate Board launched a program encouraging Greater Toronto REALTORS® to share their stories about how they’re striving to make a difference in our city.

TREB’s charitable contribution program is not limited to real estate or housing issues. Activities may include such things as crime prevention, youth mentoring, and homelessness prevention.

If you know a REALTOR® whose work has helped improve the quality of life in a GTA
community, please complete the online application to TREB’s Charitable Contributions program to help give proper recognition for the important work they do.  I look forward to telling you about their good works in the months ahead and creating a contagion of kindness. 

For more information on this program visit www.torontorealestateboard.com/about_TREB/charity_work

Our city’s Greater Toronto REALTORS® are an ambitious group, and not just when it comes to real estate, but also with regard to improving the quality of life in those same communities.  For a number of years the Toronto Real Estate Board has recognized their efforts with our annual Community Service Award.

This year, Toronto REALTOR® Harvey Malinsky was recognized for his work to support the Toronto People With Aids Foundation. He plays a key role in organizing one of the Foundation’s major fundraisers, the Friends for Life Bike Rally, which involves sponsored cyclists riding from Toronto to Montreal. He also participates in the event, and in his three years of riding he has collected more than $100,000 in pledges.

Mississauga REALTOR® Azim Rizvee also took home the award this year in recognition of his efforts to raise funds through charity barbeques and golf tournaments for the United Way, the Salvation Army, and the Milton Hospital Foundation.  In addition to his fundraising efforts he sponsors a number of worthy organizations including the Milton Centre for the Arts, the Muslim Association of Milton, the Milton Hospital Foundation and the Milton Skating Club.
  
Collectively, through the Realtors Care Foundation, TREB Members also support a number of shelter related causes. Last year alone, 35 organizations benefited from our efforts, which incidentally, included the construction of two TREB-sponsored Habitat for Humanity homes.  Our support extends to a wide range of organizations including those that have helped abused women, homeless teens, critically ill children, and new immigrants, to name just a few.

As a means of fostering a bright future for our city we also recognize academic achievement. This year we awarded scholarships to support the post-secondary pursuits of five young people. Our work with the children’s breakfast program is also ongoing. Sponsored by real estate brokerages, TREB staff, and corporate partners, the program involves more than 150 volunteers who serve and clean up after meals each school day, providing approximately 9600 nutritious breakfasts every month to children in 17 different Greater Toronto Area schools.

Again, please help us spread the good works, and so if you know a REALTOR® whose work has helped improve the quality of life in a GTA community, please submit an application to TREB’s Charitable Contributions program.    For more information on this program visit www.torontorealestateboard.com/about_TREB/charity_work

Ann Hannah is President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a professional association that represents 34,000 REALTORS® in the Greater Toronto Area.

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