Realtors in Ontario play an integral part in their communities. In a recent survey by the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), 84 per cent of Ontario Realtors said they had contributed to their local community either through local charities, sports teams or events within the past year. That means more than 51,000 of Ontario’s 61,000 Realtors contributed in one way or another to their community’s well-being.
Realtors spend the better part of their days helping people buy or sell homes in communities that they themselves live in. Realtors are community experts – they know where the schools and amenities are, they are familiar with local resources and services and they are often the first people to introduce families to a new community. They know that stable and safe communities are where people want to live and raise their families. As area experts with an interest in building strong communities, Realtors certainly do their part to keep up the quality of their communities.
This appreciation for community and the desire to give back were the impetuses to the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation being created many years ago. Previously the Canadian Real Estate Board Foundation – Ontario Fund, and the OREA Foundation, it was first established in 1967 to raise funds for a variety of charitable organizations across Ontario. In 1999, the foundation turned its focus to shelter-based charitable organizations, a cause near and dear to Realtors. Since 1998, $4.4 million have been granted to shelter-based organizations across the province on behalf of Ontario Realtors.
In 2014, the foundation gave out $910,000 in grants to over 200 organizations across the province. Some recipients were: Habitat for Humanity, Collingwood Crisis Centre, YWCA Sudbury, Covenant House Toronto, Eva’s Initiatives, Leeds & Grenville, Interval House, Community Living Mississauga, the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa and the Regional Hospice of Quinte.
Realtors across the province are instrumental to the foundation’s success. Their personal efforts are complemented by annual events held by the foundation to bring in funds. An example is the Motorcycle Ride for Charity, a one-day, multi-stop journey that draws in Realtor-riders for a day of fun. What started as a summertime joyride for a group of Realtors who shared a fondness for riding, eventually turned into an annual fund raiser. The ride has taken place every summer since 2006, with increasing amounts pledged each year. To date it has raised more than $247,000 for shelter-related causes in Ontario.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the ride, which takes place on Wed., July 8. It kicks off at the OREA offices and wraps up at the Ottawa Real Estate Board, with stops along the way in Peterborough, Brockville and Smiths Falls.
To join the ride, visit the foundation’s website and click on “Ride” and “Register for ride.” If you cannot take part but wish to make a pledge, click on “Sponsor a Rider.”
The annual ride is but one example of how much Realtors care – it offers a fun opportunity to raise funds for charities that support families in their pursuit of shelter and home ownership. The funds raised go back into communities across Ontario.
I would like to recognize all OREA members who generously donate their time, money and skills to their local communities. I am honoured to be part of a profession that places such importance on giving back to its communities.
Dreena Gilpin is president of the Ontario Realtors Care Foundation.
