By: Sandra Clark | Our Town Leaders, West Knoxville
Charitable giving has continued to rise among Realtor associations, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors. The Community Aid and Real Estate Report – CARE – offers insight into the monetary and volunteer contributions of NAR members, broker-owners and association executives or multiple listing service staff.
- 66% of Realtors volunteered every month
- 77% of broker-owners volunteered every month, and
- Realtors are most likely to have volunteered with food delivery for the elderly or food banks to help with Covid-19, and nearly half volunteer the same as before the onset of the pandemic.
Knoxville Area Association of Realtors (KAAR) volunteers stuffed more than 300 backpacks with $15,000 worth of school supplies for East Tennessee students who receive assistance through Youth Villages’ Backpack Heroes program. The money was raised in the KAAR’s Birdies for Backpacks golf tournament. KAAR has supported the Backpack Heroes initiative for the past 12 years and donated nearly $200,000 of supplies.
Realtors in Florida cleared over 18,000 pounds of trash and debris from 36 miles of waterways across the state.
In Springfield, Missouri, Realtor Linda Brown and her husband, David, opened Eden Village, a 31-unit tiny-home community offering permanent housing and support services to individuals formerly homeless. It has grown to two with a third planned for 2024.
Realty Executives Associates volunteered to improve the grounds at Lakeshore Park. Here are some photos:
April Belew cleans up Lakeshore Park. 
Melanie Young pulls weeds. 
Randy and Corry Susong at work.
