Community-Minded RE/MAX Agents Give Back
RE/MAX nova agents have a strong reputation for community support. Here’s what two of our agents say about why they do charity work and what motivates them to give back.
Competing for a good cause
Dawna Candelora has always been a competitive person. In fact, she’s disappointed with being the #2 ranked agent in the RE/MAX nova office. “For me, it drives me crazy to be number two. I want to be number one, so I’m always striving to do more and to be better,” she chuckles.
Dawna’s competitive nature is serving her well in her latest charity effort – an intense 10-week fundraising competition in aid of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It’s a national competition with business people from across the country vying for the titles of Man or Woman of the Year.
“It’s a competition but I think everybody who is doing this is not necessarily doing it to win but just to really make a difference in people’s lives.”
Dawna decided to take up the challenge after hearing about the death of a childhood friend from leukemia. She set a six-figure fundraising goal and has a full slate of activities lined up, including a wine-tasting event, and a casino night and auction. She admits the goal is an ambitious one and isn’t sure she’ll reach it, but she’s giving it her best shot.
Giving back is a win-win
Although this is her biggest charity effort yet, Dawna has supported good causes since she started in real estate 13 years ago. Like many of her RE/MAX colleagues, she donates part of every real estate transaction to the IWK through the Children’s Miracle Network. She also does fundraising events to support breast cancer research.
So, why does she do it? “Because I can,” she replies. “Real estate has just been an amazing career. It was the right choice for me and I have people referring me and giving back to me every day. This is my way of giving back to someone else that’s in need.”
Dawna also acknowledges that doing good things in the community is also good for business.
“We never do any of these charity events to get business but that is a way to see more people to communicate with more people. The more people you know, the more comes back to you.”
She says it’s also good for her own well-being. “I think getting involved in your community gives you a sense of worth and value. I think giving back to somebody makes you feel good.”
Enjoying the sweet side of fundraising
Kathy Bethune has a lot on the go – along with being a real estate agent, she’s also a nurse. She’s also an avid baker, and that helps her cope with the demands of her busy life. “If I’m stressed I bake, if I’m happy I bake, if I’m cranky I bake – it’s what I do. It’s my release,” says Kathy.
Baking is also her way to do good in the community. Last year, Kathy set a goal of raising $2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society by baking cakes and selling them to her friends and colleagues.
She started last summer with strawberry shortcakes. “I just put it on the RE/MAX group, ‘I’m baking cakes – anybody want to purchase one for a fundraiser?’ I got so many orders. I ended up making eight strawberry shortcakes that week,” she recalls.
After a big push a few days before Christmas, Kathy was relieved to hand over a cheque to the charity before the year wrapped up. “It was just such a relief. It was such a sense of accomplishment,” she says. Kathy plans to continue baking and donating but on a less intense schedule.
Feeling good about giving
Kathy says the concept of giving back was instilled in her as a child. “I grew up in a big family without access to many resources, but my mother was always giving. And she taught that to us – that you should always help out people whenever you can.”
She thinks real estate agents often get a “bad rap” and are seen to be driven by money and only “out for themselves.” “That’s so not true,” says Kathy, adding many of her colleagues go out of their way to support good causes simply because they know it’s the right thing to do.
She says charity work can also counter the intensity of the job. “Real estate can be stressful. It can be mentally challenging and it just gives you this release of – ‘Wow, it was fun to do that,’ says Kathy. “It feels good to give other people things. It’s almost euphoric.”
Of the few awards Kathy has received in recent years, the ones she is most proud of had nothing to do with financial success. She talks about the Good Deeds Award she got for her charity efforts and a spirit award that she jokingly calls her “Miss Congeniality Award” for doing good things for her colleagues and being a positive force around the office.
“I think if anybody is able to get out there and do any little bit to help, they should,” says Kathy. ”You just never know when something you do might change somebody’s day.”
Ready to take the next step?
Kathy and Dawna are two of our many community-minded agents and great examples of how successful business people can do well and also do good.
If you’d like to speak with us about buying or selling a home, we would be happy to help you take the next step on your journey. Contact us today.
