The National Association of REALTORS® is accepting applications for this year’s Good Neighbor Awards, recognizing real estate professionals who have made an impact through volunteer service in their communities.
Nearly 70% of REALTORS® volunteer in their community each month, according to NAR’s Community Aid and Real Estate report. NAR each year recognizes those local, state, and international volunteer efforts made by real estate pros through its annual Good Neighbor Awards.
“Nothing about this association makes me more proud than the fact NAR has honored over 200 REALTORS® during the past 20 years for all of the work they have done to improve the lives of the people around them,” says Vince Malta, NAR president. “The fact that NAR can support their important work by providing grant money and national exposure only further exemplifies the commitment that all REALTORS® have made to their communities, clients, and neighbors.”
Good Neighbor Award winners receive a $10,000 grant to go toward their nonprofit organization. The winners will also be recognized at the 2020 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in New Orleans and gain widespread media exposure. Five honorable mentions will also be selected, with each receiving a $2,500 grant.
Many of the honorees over the years have been able to expand their volunteer efforts and programs through the grant money they’ve received from the program. For example, 2019 Good Neighbor Award winner Mark Solomon says the grant money helped his nonprofit gain media exposure and expand its “tiny home” village for homeless veterans beyond its first community in Kansas City to around the country. “We are using those funds to help us build houses in Colorado, and plan to be housing homeless veterans there later this fall,” Solomon says.
The Good Neighbor Awards program celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Since 2000, the Good Neighbor Awards program—sponsored by realtor.com® and Wells Fargo—has donated more than $1.3 million to REALTOR®-led nonprofits.
“The Good Neighbor Awards inspire us to expand our horizons and make great things happen,” says realtor.com® Chief Marketing Officer Nate Johnson. Realtor.com® also sponsors the program’s Web Choice Favorite, which awards additional grant money to the three finalists who earn the most votes online from the public.
Good Neighbor Award nominees are selected from a panel of judges, who take into account the personal impact the real estate professional has made through their volunteer work. Applications are due by May 8. For more details on the judging criteria and to access the online nomination form, For more details on the judging criteria and to access the online nomination form, visit nar.realtor/gna or call 800-874-6500.
