Renew the Commitment to Community Service

REALTORS® donate to Haiti via the REALTOR® Relief Fund. The National Association of REALTORS® and Lowe’s, a partner in NAR’s REALTOR Benefit® Program, are coming together to contribute relief to Haiti and the victims of the country’s recent earthquake. REALTORS® are encouraged to donate to Haitian victims through the REALTORS® Relief Foundation.

REALTORS® Renewing America in Local Communities

Tell Us What You Are Doing www.illinoisrealtor.org/renew

Going green in her own home brought REALTOR® Laura Reedy Stukel an unexpected benefit: $2,500 in prize money and the chance to give something back to Family Matters, a Chicago community center that means a lot to her. Stukel, with L.W. Reedy Real Estate in Elmhurst, renovated her home to make it energy efficient and in doing so, won a green improvement contest from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.

Stukel, an EcoBroker certified sales agent, used the $2,500 to make the community center more “green” by helping replace an old boiler that was emitting carbon monoxide. She’s raising more money to make other energy efficient upgrades, ­including solar panels, that she estimates could save the center $1,600 in yearly ­utility costs.

Stukel’s work at the community center is a way of paying tribute to a friendship that formed years earlier when she mentored a young woman who ultimately became a good friend. Stukel’s friend died of cancer last year, and when she won this year on April 27, the day that would have been her friend’s 29th birthday, she thought it was appropriate to donate the prize money to the community center.

Stukel is just one of many people in the Illinois REALTOR® family who routinely donates their time and talents to build stronger communities. Earlier this year, the Illinois Association of REALTORS® launched REALTORS® Renewing America, a public service campaign calling on the ­association’s members to renew and ­redouble volunteer efforts.

“REALTORS® have always had a strong commitment to community service and volunteerism and these latest member projects reflect that spirit,” said IAR President Michael Onorato. “Economic issues have put a strain on many Illinois communities and our members have stepped up to do what they can to help.”

IAR launched REALTORS® Renewing America at the start of 2009, but the ­campaign won’t end when December 31 rolls around. Get inspired and go into 2010 with a renewed commitment to community service. Roll up your sleeves, keep ­volunteering and let us know how you are getting involved.

The latest initiatives of Illinois REALTORS® have been many and varied:

Jeff Merrinette, the father of three ­children adopted from Korea and an IAR local ­Government Affairs Director, volunteered in the kitchens of Camp Pride Korea, a week-long day camp for children adopted from Korea.

The Bloomington-Normal Association of REALTORS® sponsored the 11th ­Annual Children’s Independence Day Parade in Bloomington.

Re/Max Northern Illinois real estate ­network organized a food drive in September to help fill the shelves of food pantries in northern Illinois.

Six Re/Max Northern Illinois member firms were honored by Children’s Memorial Hospital because each firm raised at least $13,000 for the hospital.

The REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois collected more than 300 business clothing items to benefit men and women who need professional clothing for job interviews or work.

The DeKalb Area Association of ­REALTORS® collected ­hundreds of
backpacks for area schoolchildren.

The Chicago Association of REALTORS® and its members repacked bulk food products for the Greater Chicago Food Depository to distribute to food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters throughout the Chicagoland area. 

The Chicago Association also hosted a clothing drive, collecting more than 1,500 articles of clothing. In another volunteer project, association staff spent a day ­painting and gardening at the South Chicago YMCA.