Royal LePage ProAlliance Rockfest Raffle for Shelter volunteers Lori Brown, Sharon Donahoe and John Ross Parks.
In a campaign dubbed “100 Days for Shelter,” which launched on July 2, the official 100th birthday of Royal LePage, offices nationwide are hosting fundraisers and organizing volunteer projects in support of their local women’s shelter. The campaign runs until Oct. 9.
Shanan Spencer-Brown, executive director of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, says: “We are so pleased to hear about the many unique initiatives – from 100-themed personal challenges, such as hiking a local trail 100 times, to inspired ways of collecting items needed by shelters, such as baby clothes.”
Liz Engert
Through fundraising events and donations from Royal LePage brokers and agents, the foundation has raised more than $16 million in support of 200 women’s shelters across Canada. Liz Engert, a sales rep with Royal LePage Binder Real Estate in Windsor, Ont., hosted an afternoon tea and “baby shower” on July 14 to celebrate the royal baby. Guests donated four bags of new baby items, which were delivered to a local women’s shelter.
From left: Nicole Regehr of Gillian’s Place, sales rep Brenda Walker, Hayley Bateman of Women’s Place of South Niagara, Royal LePage broker/manager Ryan Johnstone and Emily Thompson of West Niagara Second Stage Housing and Counselling.
Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate Centre took up the challenge, creating an innovative event in support of three local shelters. Sales rep Brenda Walker distributed laundry baskets to fellow Royal LePage agents, staff, clients and local businesses, encouraging them to fill the baskets with messages of hope, necessities and small luxuries for women and children embarking on a new life after leaving an emergency shelter.
Others in Walker’s office filled baskets, organizing the drop-off celebration event and delivering 200 “Hampers of Hope” to Gillian’s Place in St. Catharines, Women’s Place of South Niagara in Niagara Falls and Welland, and West Niagara Second Stage Housing in Beamsville.
From left, front: Tiffany Warren and Michelle Halliday of Royal LePage Professionals 2000. Back: Erica Robbins, AnnMarie Hartman and Jill Holden from yoga studio Moksha St. John’s.
Michelle Halliday of Royal LePage Professionals 2000 in St. John’s organized a weekly yoga night in June. Moksha St. John’s owners Jill Holden and Steve Vardy waived regular class fees for the 60-minute class and accepted donations to the foundation for entry, raising $1,009 in support of local women’s shelter, Marguerite’s Place.
Royal LePage Martin-Liberty Realty in Brandon, Man. hosted a “Bud, Spud and Steak” fundraising dinner. More than 300 guests attended the event, collectively raising $5,000 for the YWCA Westman Women’s Shelter.
Royal LePage True North Realty’s annual tournament raised $23,000.
Royal LePage True North Realty in Fort McMurray, Alta. hosted its 12th Annual Slow Pitch Ball Tournament in support of the foundation. The three-day tournament attracted 24 teams for friendly competition. A barbecue prepared by beneficiary and local women’s shelter Unity House added to the event.
Barry Rabe (right), partner/sales rep and Miriam Pattison (far left), broker/manager, Royal LePage Martin-Liberty Realty, present $5,000 to Karen Peto, executive director, YWCA.
The event raised $23,000. “Each year we surpass the previous year’s fundraising total,” says broker/owner Marian Barry. “It was a great weekend with sunny weather, plenty of ball players with generous hearts and an amazing group of volunteers.”
