Working to put an end to family violence

The Shelter Foundation harnesses the goodwill of Royal LePagers coast to coast

At Royal LePage we demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the communities where we live and work. To formally recognize this commitment, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation was established in 1998, creating Canada’s largest public foundation dedicated exclusively to funding women’s shelters and violence prevention and education programs. Thanks to the generosity and dedication of Royal LePage brokers, agents and staff, the Shelter Foundation has raised more than $14 million to help end family violence.

By working together and dedicating our time and resources, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation raised a record-setting $2 million in 2011. Royal LePage covers the administrative costs of the Shelter Foundation so 100 per cent of every dollar we raise goes to our cause. Each year, we fund 200 shelters and help more than 30,000 women and children.

As Canada’s only real estate company with its own branded charity, we have a long history of working to make a difference in the communities where we live and work. By donating a portion of their commission on the purchase or sale of each client’s property, our agents are helping to create safer homes and safer communities. Many Royal LePage professionals are also actively involved with their local shelters – volunteering, donating in-kind goods and providing holiday gift baskets.

May is Shelter Month at Royal LePage and in 2012 we generated widespread awareness of the issue of family violence through the media and online. More than 130 Royal LePage offices across Canada participated in the 2012 National Garage Sale for Shelter, our signature fundraising event, raising more than $430,000! This annual event has now generated more than $1.2 million since its inception in 2009. We are very grateful to the hard-working Garage Sale volunteers and to our event sponsors, TD Canada Trust Mobile Mortgage Specialists and Atlas Canada.

“ I’ve been committed to supporting the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation since the Foundation started over a decade ago. Giving back to the communities where we live and work by helping our local women’s shelters is very important to me and my whole team.”

– Mark Rashotte, Shelter Foundation Philanthropist of the Year (Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty)

It feels very satisfying to help such a worthy cause in my community. I have been extremely fortunate in my life so it just seems natural to give back and help others.

Along with ensuring women and children who have experienced abuse have a safe place to go, we also take a long-term view to stopping the cycle of violence. As a founding partner of the Fourth R, a school-based education program, we are helping the next generation to develop healthy relationships. With the help of our national partner, the Canadian Women’s Foundation, we support programs to help women rebuild their lives after violence and we fund programs that help teenagers recognize and prevent abusive behaviour.

Agents of Change

The Agents of Change committee comprises some of our most passionate champions. They are trusted advisors to the Shelter Foundation and active spokespersons for the Foundation in their regions. Contact your local Agent of Change about Shelter Foundation activities in your area.

Our generous donors!

Thanks go out to all our generous donors with special mention of our 2011 Top 1 per cent Shelter Foundation Donors (based on official charitable donation receipts).

Lauretta Stewart, Sean McCann, Norm Fisher, Julio Florez, Bruce MacPherson, Carol Lome, Michael Lepore, Rick Preston, Dino Melchior, Donald Gault, Cliff Stevenson, Frank Vanderbleek, Elli Davis, James Wright, Manny Andrade, Christine Hauschild, Brian Elder, Carlo Racioppo, Gail Bibeau, Mike Ferry, Andrea Morrison, Gia Lucchetta,Brad White, Heather Lemieux, Jeannie Schultz, Dwayne Zaba, Brenda Walker, Paula Mitchell, Debra Cherry, Carol Roberton, Sharen Warde.

Shanan Spencer-Brown is the Executive Director and President of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. She can be reached at shelterfoundation@royallepage.ca or visit www.royallepage.ca/shelter for more information.

Congratulations to our Shelter Award winners

Shelter Award recipients are nominated by their colleagues for making an outstanding or extraordinary contribution of time and effort to their local shelter and to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. The Shelter Foundation is pleased to recognize and celebrate the following winners, announced in Spring, 2012:

Philanthropist of the Year: Mark Rashotte Alberta Individual: Murray Scotton Alberta Office: Royal LePage Community Realty British Columbia Individual: Michael Lepore British Columbia Office: Royal LePage Kelowna East Coast Individual: Bryan Burgess East Coast Office: Royal LePage Atlantic Homestead Manitoba Individual: Brad Munn Ontario Individual: Connie Carson Ontario Office: Royal LePage First Contact Quebec Individual: Melody May Quebec Office: Royal LePage Champlain Saskatchewan Office: Royal LePage Saskatoon Saskatchewan Team: The Phil Robertson Team, Royal LePage Regina

The Shelter Foundation is grateful to the following Agents of Change

Darlis Bachusky

Royal LePage Network Realty, Red Deer, AB

Bryan Burgess

Royal LePage Gardiner Realty, Fredericton, NB

Catherine de Vries

Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Toronto, ON

Mike Duggleby

Royal LePage Regina, Regina, SK

Jolene Ledene Reimer

Royal LePage Community Realty, Brooks, AB

Mary Lindsay

Royal LePage Team Realty, Ottawa, ON

Becky Parkes

Royal LePage Dynamic Real Estate, Winnipeg, MB

Angela Reeves

Royal LePage Coronation West Realty, Coquitlam, BC

Deb Schmidt

Royal LePage Premier Realty, Yorkton, SK

Grant Staley

Royal LePage Village, L’Île-Perrot, QC

Sharen Warde

Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty, Victoria, BC

Debbie Zimmer

Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services, Burlington, ON