FEATURE 2016 ORRA GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD RECIPIENTS Joe LaRosa, La Rosa Realty, LLC Organization: Housing 4 All Joe is a staunch supporter of Housing 4 All, an organization that seeks to bridge homeless veterans, families, and individuals into affordable housing and to provide the supportive services that help with integration back into a stable working environment. There is an emphasis on homeownership and self-sufficiency, and Hope 4 All also helps with downpayment assistance programs and debt management. Joe’s personal volunteer efforts span across all of the organization’s initiatives, whether it be event planning or fundraising. For example, in 2015 Joe lent his brokerage building and parking lot to host a “Basket Brigade,” an event that resulted in the Thanksgiving-time donation of 500 baskets filled with donated food and gift cards. He also encourages real estate agents, including those on the other side of his transactions, to donate a portion of their commissions to Housing 4 All. Joe even provides the Housing 4 All website! ����housing4allinc.org Vanessa Pierce, Exit Realty Central Organization: National Association of Women in Construction, Greater Orlando Chapter 72 Vanessa is an active volunteer with the local chapter of NAWIC, which has the core purpose of enhancing the success of women in the construction industry. Knowing that women represent only a small fraction of the construction industry, NAWIC is a supportive network that provides its members with opportunities for professional development, education and scholarship, networking, leadership training, public service, and more. Vanessa’s involvement with NAWIC includes past and present chairmanship stints on a variety of committees, ranging from Technology (she was instrumental in revitalizing the chapter’s Facebook presence) to Ways and Means (she is a record-breaking fundraiser!). And as a member of the Board of Directors, she introduced then led the chapter’s first annual career fair. Support for NAWIC’s community service projects is Vanessa’s wheelhouse. Among other initiatives, she manages the Block Kids event to encourage children to consider a career in construction, and she near single-handedly developed the Construction Career Camp. This free camp offers 80 girls a supportive and nurturing environment in which to explore and develop basic skills in the areas of carpentry, electrical, and HVAC/plumbing. ����nawicorlando.org Orlando REALTORS® don’t just help people realize their dreams of homeownership, they also help build communities. Now, four of those community-builders have been honored for their efforts by the third annual Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association Good Neighbor Awards. Each of the nonprofit organizations helped by our GNA recipients’ volunteer efforts has received a $1,000 donation from ORRA to support their missions. “This award program recognizes REALTORS® whose volunteerism has improved the quality of life for their neighbors,” says ORRA President Bruce Elliott, Regal R.E. Professionals LLC. “They — along with many, many other REALTORS® throughout Orlando, Florida, and the entire country — go above and beyond in their commitment to making our neighborhoods better places to live.” “The breadth and depth of our REALTORS®’ community service efforts are truly inspirational, adds Elliott. “REALTOR® volunteerism touches every aspect of community, from people to plants to pets.” (Turn to page 32 for examples, then visit orlandorealtors.org for even more.) The ORRA Good Neighbor Awards is a project of the ORRA Community Relations Committee, which is responsible for many of the association’s community service initiatives. It also organizes volunteerism activities for all members’ participation and considers requests for ORRA support by local nonprofit organizations. orlandorealtors.org 11
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