6 minute read
A COMPANY WITH HEART
BY MELANIE ROBITAILLE SR. STAFF WRITER & MAEGAN CARRASQUILLO STAFF WRITER
In a sales business such as real estate, many assume that agents are only concerned with the bottom line, that is until they experience the light that shines from within EXIT Realty; a collective brilliance from a company made of REALTORS ® with heart. Two such agents are EXIT Realty Premier Sales Representatives, William Anthony Dean and Robert Schwendel. Tony and Robbie, or EXIT’s Real Estate A Team, as they’re known by friends, family and clients, found the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), while working for EXIT. “To say it was life altering is an understatement. It wasn’t until a few days later that I realized what I had gotten myself into,” Tony reminisced of the night he agreed to his first YSC Tour de Pink ride; a ride that Robbie would also take on a few short years later.
This annual ride they participate in is no small feet either. It’s a 3-day, 220- mile cycling event that spurred the creation of another fundraiser that betters the planet all at the same time. Tony and Robbie have built a 40-person, selfless crew of cyclists over the last seven years. They have persevered through some personal, team losses, raising almost $1 million for the YSC with the help of their Pink Cans for Cancer recycling program, which places pink bins in community businesses, venues and schools to collect aluminum cans. In 2019 the team partnered with EXIT Realty Corp. International, through the Spirit of EXIT Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Program, raising $21,618.35, which when matched by EXIT Realty meant $41,618.35 for YSC. This year Tony and Robbie hope to raise even more for this wonderful organization which has provided for so many cancer patients even during the 2020 pandemic with things like masks for those at high risk for Coronavirus (Covid-19). Keep up on their journey by following them at instagram.com/pinkcans4cancer.
EXIT’s Spirit of EXIT program allows philanthropic members like Sales Representative, Larry Gardner, with EXIT Realty All Pro to sprinkle kindness and love like confetti on beloved local and registered charities. Known as Larry “Love” by all, he embodies a life of servitude, through his career, his repeated role as a foster parent, his continual mentoring and support of fellow EXIT agents, and his several volunteer efforts. For over 36 years, Larry has been a bell ringer as part of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign, personally raising over $170,000 for his local New York chapter. After receiving a proclamation from his local municipality for his efforts in 2018, he immediately challenged himself to reach greater goals the next year, and vowed to partner with EXIT Realty Corp. International to match what he could raise at two sponsored kettle locations. There was no missing those locations either. Anyone who crossed his path was greeted with music, Larry in his musical Santa hat, doing his signature dance moves, and they almost always left with a smile. He coordinated the various volunteers and their shifts for both locations, working in tandem to raise a grand total of $21,535 for the Salvation Army.
The true power and uniqueness of EXIT’s Formula is that when you choose EXIT Realty to work for or with, you’re choosing community too, because a portion of each EXIT transaction fee is held in trust. It’s to this very pool of funds that our brokerages and associates can apply for matching funds in order to assist local area charities, including Habit for Humanity (HFH) chapters across North America.
Boots on the ground helping in Orleans, ON.
To date, EXIT Realty Corp. International has sponsored 20 home builds, including recently as a silver sponsor of the Jimmy and Roselynn Carter Work Project in Tennessee, where Executives, brokers and agents alike rolled up their sleeves and worked alongside the former president and first lady. The Canadian HFH chapter in Ottawa, ON also benefited from a full $100,000 direct pledge from EXIT Realty Corp. International to support a 16-home development in the Orleans area of EXIT Realty Eastern Ontario. Many people believe in giving back to their communities, and oftentimes the outpouring of support is greater than expected as was the case for the team at EXIT Realty N.F.I. group located in the areas of Pensacola, Pace, Gulf Breeze and Navarre, Florida. When they first began hosting their annual golf tournament. They hoped to raise $30,000, which EXIT Realty Corp. International was proud to match, but exceeded their expectations coming in at $33,478 for an astounding $63,478 donation to benefit the Pensacola HFH chapter.
EXIT Realty planted seeds of charity and togetherness into the core of the company, which have grown into a culture unlike any other in real estate. Members are treated like the true assets that they are, and in turn treat their clients and communities the same because they understand the importance of giving back. This is how EXIT and our agents have always operated, even before the Spirit of EXIT Dollar-For-Dollar Matching Program came to be.
Many, like Max and Tina Coleman, Regional Owners of EXIT Realty Montana and Franchisees of EXIT Realty Bitterroot Valley have always sought a way to give. After another record year in 2019 they were researching charitable ideas when they came across a story on social media of a fellow EXIT broker who paid off the outstanding student lunch debt at his old high school. The post stuck with them and, after a few days, they decided this would be the best way to help in their area. With seven school districts in total in their franchise area, Max immediately started making calls. Less than a week later, all but two had responded, and the amount of outstanding debt in certain districts was surprising. Over 37 million people struggle with hunger in the U.S., 11 million of whom are children. Many schools provide students with snacks if they arrive to school late and a great deal eat breakfast at school as well. Early on Max and Tina agreed that they wouldn’t put a limit on the dollar amount they would donate, and they projected the process would take until mid- December 2019 to finalize. With an “all in” EXIT attitude, as of December 2, 2019, they erased the entire school lunch debt in Ravalli County; approximately $15,000 in total, which also aided in the continuation of many beneficial school programs. The Colemans are definitely not finished either; in true EXIT fashion they’re challenging brokers across the EXIT Nation to find a cause and go for it. “It doesn’t have to be the same one,” he said, “though could you imagine the impact of this rolling across the United States?” With a corporate purpose to create #impact in 2020, the Spirit of EXIT Dollar-for- Dollar Matching Program will continue to be a powerful, positive conduit for good across North America. For more information about the program and to follow along with charitable news and events visit exitrealty.com/spirit.
