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Agents and employees who wish to participate have the option of
giving by way of their salary, sales commission or through onetime
donations throughout each cycle. They can then nominate
organizations to the Board of Directors that oversees the dayto
day management of the Foundation and reviews donation
requests. When a Michael Saunders & Company agent donates
following a real estate transaction, the customer receives a letter
to inform the donation was made on their behalf.
“The MSC Foundation and its commitment to utilizing a strong
network of community-minded professionals to enact positive
change is a true representation of the core values at Michael
Saunders & Company,” says Drayton. “I’m amazed not only by
the passion of people who have dedicated their volunteer time -
but also by those organizations who have dedicated their entire
lives to making a really important difference.”
The Gift of Giving
When asked about the most rewarding part of working with the
Foundation, Drayton says it’s the true stories about real people
who benefit from these charities. “When you work with these
charities, you hear stories you would never otherwise hear,” he
explains. “It reminds you of what’s really important. It’s easy
to overlook in a busy life that there is a lot of need around us.
Particularly in real estate, we often drive around and see the best
parts of the community - but there is a lot of need.”
He adds that the MSC Foundation is focused on supporting
local organizations that often slip under the radar. “As much as
I appreciate the national organizations, people are well aware
of those efforts,” he points out. “What isn’t always on the radar
is what happens in the community, those smaller organizations
that do really important work. They aren’t going to make the
front page of the newspaper, and they aren’t funded nationally.”
This is where MSC agents can help by spreading the word and
garnering support for these local organizations.
While many of Michael Saunders & Company’s agents were
already dedicated to giving back, Drayton believes the MSC
Foundation takes generosity to a new level. “When you make giving
part of your philosophy, it has a cumulative effect,” he emphasizes.
“It’s the commitment to make this part of our culture in a formal
way and be a part of the community. It has been exciting for me
to see the synergy of the process. And without our team giving,
it wouldn’t happen. I’m really proud of my team.”