details in preparation for the fourth-annual Realtors® Care Day
Friday, April 20. The all-day, home-repair initiative, which helps
struggling homeowners across Mecklenburg and Iredell counties, is a
project of the Housing Opportunity Foundation, the charitable arm of
the Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association.
Realtors® Care Day is an industry-wide volunteer effort to help area
homeowners with necessary but often unaffordable exterior home repairs
and/or adaptive safety modifications. Fortified by a collective
altruistic spirit and armed with hammers, paintbrushes and assorted
tools, some 500 Realtors® will take the day off to answer the needs
of 23 homeowners, including veterans, the elderly and disabled.
"As Realtors®, we are keenly aware that many in our community lack the
physical ability or financial resources to maintain their homes," said
Stephanie Gossett, co-chair of Realtors® Care Day. "The shelter that
is supposed to be a comfort instead becomes a burden, and in many
cases, is unsafe." Gossett also noted that the committee sought to
identify veteran homeowners in need of assistance. "We are honored to
be working with a few veterans and hope to expand this focus in years
to come."
Over the past three years, Realtors® Care Day has helped improve the
lives of 87 families with a community-wide impact of more than
$500,000. The 2012 event promises to build upon this success, with
almost 100 local businesses and organizations pitching in with
financial sponsorships and support as well as in-kind donations.
The project's successful track record has also spurred national
attention, serving as a model for the New Jersey Association of
Realtors®, which will launch its first statewide Realtors® Care Day
later this year. "This follows recognition from the National
Association of Realtors (NAR) two years ago for the effective
partnership between Realtors®, community leaders and our elected
officials," said Terri Marshall, Housing Opportunity Foundation
executive director.
Realtors® Care Day welcomes back the dedication of eight regional
partners that have supported the project for the past four years.
Through the joint efforts of the following organizations, Realtors®
Care Day leaders have identified and helped secure homeowners and
sites eligible for assistance with critical home-repair needs:
· City of Charlotte's Neighborhood & Business Services Dept.
· Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte
· Habitat for Humanity of Matthews
· Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County
· Our Town Habitat for Humanity
· Love INC
· Davidson Housing Coalition -HAMMERS Program
· Builders of Hope
"Realtors® Care Day continues to gain momentum, illustrating the
positive, widespread impact of a collaborative philanthropic effort,"
said Nobie Thrasher, Realtors® Care Day co-chair. "From our housing
partners that help identify homeowners and hundreds of local business
sponsors that provide financial backing, to the general contractors
and inspectors that contribute their construction expertise, this
project is driven by a united goal to serve our community."
Realtors® Care Day also kicks off Green Week
The project will also launch "Green Week," April 20-27, a new
association enterprise to promote sustainability. Realtors® Care Day
volunteers will provide energy-efficiency kits to the 23 homeowners as
well as help plant trees and shrubbery at many of the home sites.
Green Week activities continue April 25 with "Don't Dump, Donate," a
collection drive hosted by the Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association
in partnership with Goodwill Industries. The public is invited to
bring donations to the Goodwill donation truck in the association
parking lot at 1201 Greenwood Cliff.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Friday, April 20 in Mecklenburg County (10:30 a.m.-noon) and in
Iredell County (1:30-3 p.m.)
Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association and Housing
Opportunity Foundation leaders, nonprofit partners and Realtor®
volunteers will be available for media interviews during the
designated time periods.
· Mecklenburg County (10:30 a.m.-noon)
2332 Heywood Avenue, Charlotte 28208 (From I-277 S/US-74 W, turn
right onto Ashley Road; turn left onto Dublin Road; take the first
right onto Heywood Avenue.)
· Iredell County (1:30-3 p.m.)
157 Sebastian Lane Statesville, NC 28677 (From 1-77 North, take Exit
42 for NC-115 N/US-21 N/Charlotte Hwy. Continue to follow NC-115 N/
US-21 N. Turn left on Old Mountain Rd. Turn left on E. Lewis Ferry
Rd., and left on Pinedell Acres Rd. Turn right on to Sebastian Lane)
About the Housing Opportunity Foundation
The Housing Opportunity Foundation is the charitable arm of the
Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association. The foundation is dedicated
to funding, education, advocacy and leadership programs that are
focused on fair and affordable housing and workforce-housing
initiatives. The foundation serves to position and educate Realtors®
as leaders, promote homeownership and provide funding to create
housing opportunities.
For more information on Realtors® Care Day 2012, visit www.RealtorsCareDay.com
.
The Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association is a trade association
that leads, educates and equips members to be productive. It provides
more than 6,500 Realtor® members with the resources and services
needed to conduct ethical, professional, successful and profitable
businesses. The association is dedicated to being the region's primary
resource for residential real estate information. The association
operates the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. (CMLS), which
has approximately 8,500 Subscribers and is the private cooperative
Realtors® use for access to tens of thousands of residential listings
in a 10-county service area, including the high-growth Charlotte area,
as well as listings outside this service area.
