Getting people into homes is important to a real estate broker, but for Michele Holmes, getting them out and about is a priority too. For every home she sells, Holmes donates a wheelchair to a person in a developing country. Because of mobility issues, some of the recipients have never been out of their house before.
Holmes has been donating wheelchairs since 2007, after she attended a Canadian Wheelchair Foundation presentation. “It was a good cause and we want to give back when we sell something,” she says. And give back she has. In honour of her clients, Holmes has donated more than 700 wheelchairs, worth more than $100,000.
“Michele is our largest corporate donor,” says Linda Whitehead, who is in charge of strategic development for the Canadian Wheelchair Foundation, an independent Canadian registered charity.
Clients receive a picture of the wheelchair recipient, and seeing the looks on her clients’ faces when they look at those photos is rewarding, says the Realtor of 29 years.
“We wanted something that we could show clients, something tangible, for a manageable contribution,” Holmes says. Each wheelchair, built to withstand rugged terrain, costs $150. Many clients who have had wheelchairs donated on their behalf have matched their Realtor’s contribution. There is no minimum donation.
Holmes, who was a teacher before becoming a Realtor, started her career with Century 21 and then moved to Pemberton Homes in Sidney, B.C. She started Holmes Realty in 2009 and now she says she has one-third of the Saanich Peninsula market.
“We started doing quite well and are blessed and fortunate. We are mobile and could do want we want. We wanted to give back and have made a significant impact. It feels good,” she says.
Holmes and her team also make donations to local organizations, including KidSport Greater Victoria, which helps local children who can’t afford sports equipment. They’re also involved with community fund-raising events including Canada Day and Christmas parades, and Pumpkins on the Pier, which kicks off the Toys for Tots campaign.
Holmes urges everyone to get involved. “There are so many people who need things…choose anything.” It doesn’t have to be wheelchairs, she says.
For more information, email Michele Holmes at [email protected] or Linda Whitehead at the Canadian Wheelchair Foundation at [email protected]. – Connie Adair
