Kevin Sears President | Official website
Five REALTORS have been chosen to participate in the 16th annual Volunteering Works grants and mentoring program, an initiative of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) and the Good Neighbor Society. The program aims to help agents expand their charitable work within their communities.
Each recipient will receive a $1,000 seed grant and one year of mentorship from a member of the Good Neighbor Society, which consists of previous winners of NAR’s Good Neighbor Awards.
“These recipients embody the spirit of service that defines our profession,” said NAR President Kevin Sears. “Their creativity and commitment strengthen communities in ways big and small. By pairing them with experienced mentors, we can help expand their reach and inspire even more members to make a difference.”
The selected recipients include Iris Beaugrand from Coppola Realty Group in Englewood, Florida, who founded Fandango Sanctuary for rescued farm animals. She involves seniors, veterans, and people with special needs in caring for these animals. “I have some volunteers who are usually nonverbal who really get excited when they touch and interact with the animals. And the formerly abused animals learn to trust again,” she said. Her mentor is Gail Doxie.
Ted Biedrzycki from Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Capitol Area in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania serves as co-president of Off The Streets. He has helped over 400 homeless individuals secure housing by covering security deposits and furnishing apartments. “Many of the people we help would remain homeless if we didn’t provide their security deposit,” he said. Biedrzycki’s mentor is Lei Barry.
Maria Flores Correa with La Rosa Realty Kissimmee established Fundación Horeb Believe to offer financial literacy education in Spanish since 2021. She organizes workshops on personal finance, credit building, and homeownership. “Seeing people regain their faith and purpose has been my biggest reward,” she said. Her mentor is MaliVai Washington.
Katie Day from Maloney Real Estate in Sioux Falls, South Dakota operates Almost Home Canine Rescue focused on rehoming stray pets from Native American reservations. The organization has placed nearly 2,000 dogs and 450 cats into new homes using donations and grants. “We never refuse medical treatment for any animal that comes in,” said Day. Joy Nelson is her mentor.
Julia D’Arts at Key Classic Realty LLC in Clermont, Florida leads I Am A Safe Place for survivors of domestic violence by providing workshops, advocacy services, emergency shelter, and education opportunities. “The greatest reward is being a safe place, providing emotional support, and connecting survivors with resources, love, and support,” she said. Sandra Shank serves as her mentor.
Recipients were chosen based on their commitment to community service through volunteer efforts as well as potential for growth with guidance from experienced mentors.
Wells Fargo Home Lending continues its sponsorship of Volunteering Works for an eighth year this cycle.
“Wells Fargo Home Lending is excited to congratulate this year’s Volunteering Works mentoring recipients,” said Sandra Ho, Wells Fargo Home Lending Head of Retail Sales. “Through our eight years of sponsoring this program, we have witnessed the significant impact these agents have made for individuals and their broader communities. We share their passion for strengthening communities across the country and hope these grants will provide the local recipients with more opportunities to make a difference.”
NAR provides information about residential and commercial real estate at nar.realtor as well as consumer guides related to homebuying processes at facts.realtor.
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) offers diversified banking services across four operating segments; further details are available at www.wellsfargo.com or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellsfargo.
