Jan. 8, 2006 - Paying It Forward

At my Annual Business Planning Retreat and at the Women's Council of REALTORS Citrus Valley (CA) Installation Meeting, I issued a challenge (along with some seed money) to make a difference this year.

So my challenge to the participants of those two events was to take my seed money & figure out a way to "pay it forward or increase its worth to make the MOST difference they could. 

So here's what some are doing:

1. Help For Seniors
I bought a raffle ticket for our Senior Santa drawing. All money raised in the raffle will be matched by our broker/owner for gifts for Senior Citizens with no families.

So I doubled the "good" of your generous gift.

Sherry S. Scott, REALTOR, GRI, BROKER/ASSOCIATE
CENTURY 21 U. S. REALTY
800 350-2100 626 233-5085
Sherry@SherrySScott.com 
http://www.SherrySScott.com

2. Literacy Campaign
I am starting my own 501(c)3- Essential Literacy, Inc. and knew I wanted the Pay it Forward donation to be my first "Official" donation.

Sharon Knapik, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
RE/MAX Realty Group, Gaithersburg, MD
Phone: 301-461-1369  Fax: 240-465-0319
 info@greaterwashingtonhomes.com
www.greaterwashingtonhomes.com

3. Holiday Home Portraits
I've been taking photographs of nice Bethlehem homes in two neighborhoods. I presently have photos of about 100 homes. I will continue to take photographs, mostly evening photographs with holiday lighting.  I will send 5x7 prints to the owners of the property and invite contributions to the New Bethany Ministries, a local Bethlehem group that runs a soup kitchen and offers other services to the poor and the homeless. 

Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, RECS, REBS
Realty World Benchmark Realty, Bethlehem, PA
610-868-2633(office) 801-881-2633 (fax)610-533-9023 (cell)
http://TheREALTYgram.com 
Fran@TheREALTYgram.com

4. Pancreatic Cancer Relief
Kathryn Scott is making a $50 donation and getting it matched by her Company to Pancreatic Cancer (which took her husband's life). She is also pledging to pay $50 per transaction next year (which will also be matched) and is asking others to make a pledge as well! Her daughter (a realtor with Long and Foster in Virginia) is also donating $50 per transaction and involving her company! Kathryn will also pledge her time.

Kathryn Scott, REALTOR
Coldwell Banker Success, Tucson, AZ
Phone: 520-577-7433

5. Project Hooked On Books
I am working with Project Hooked on Books to furnish age appropriate books for medical offices, pediatric offices and waiting rooms of children crisis agencies.

Miriam Bell, ABR, CRS, GRI
Realty Executives, Tucson AZ
http://www.TucsonBell.com
TucsonBell@aol.com

6. WCR Help
I used my $5 pay it forward to help the Citrus Valley Chapter. They are a new chapter and going through the new chapter struggles, so thought they could use the money.

Jamie Saltman, QSC, e-PRO
2005 District Vice President
California State Chapter
Women's Council of Realtors
(714) 761-8821

7. Humanitarian Aid To Africa
I am  collecting business and motivational materials for Kenyan, African students as part of a humanitarian relief efforts. She invites contributions. Call her for e-mail for details on how you can help.

Marlene Bass, e-PRO, CRS, GRI, SRES, CREA
Coldwell Banker, Northbrook, IL
888-390-SOLD
http://www.NorthShoreCondos.com
Marlene@MarleneDoesMore.com

8. Mississippi Box Project
  "The Box Project", originally named "The Mississippi Box Project, gives back to one of the poorest areas in the United States.  I used the $50 to become a Team Member for a year and, to keep the money going forward, I have volunteered to be an ongoing member of their Advisory Board so to assist them in special projects utilizing my "area of expertise" in marketing.