Regional Spotlight—Over 400 local REALTORS®, family and friends cleaned, painted, pruned and planted last week as part of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®’ (CBR) eighth annual REALTOR® Care Day, helping improve homes in American Addition and 21 surrounding areas in five counties.
Started in 2005, REALTOR® Care Day is an annual day of service to the communities in which REALTORS® live, work and raise families. In the last eight years, REALTOR® Care Day has donated tens of thousands of dollars in improvements and repairs and hundreds of hours of service to local communities around central Ohio.
“REALTORS® donate time and talent to their communities throughout the year,” said Jim Coridan, 2012 president of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. “This one day event focuses the energy of hundreds of volunteers in areas all over the central Ohio area.”
For the main project this year, CBR partnered with Homeport (formerly CHP) to improve five homes in the subdivision – all on Sampson Avenue.
“We cleaned, repaired, painted, landscaped, fixed gutters, re-carpeted porches and installed a new shed,” said Bob McCarthy, co-chair of the CBR 2012 REALTOR® Care Day Committee. “The homeowners were very appreciative. One of the owners, William Fields, passed away last week. So we planted a tree in his yard in his memory.”
In addition to the CBR main project, 21 area realty associations participated in REALTOR® Care Day projects in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison and Pickaway counties.
Over $33,000 was invested to accomplish the 34 projects around central Ohio.
Area association projects included clean up/landscaping and miscellaneous services for:
• Old Franklinton Cemetery
• Merion Village
• Heinzerling Foundation
• Haven House (shelter for battered women/children) – Circleville
• Oak Creek Cemetery – Delaware
• Fryer Park – Grove City
• First Responders Park – Hilliard
• Capital Area Humane Society – Hilliard
• Arbors of London (skilled nursing, extended care and rehabilitation facility) – London
• Diley and Sycamore Creek parks – Pickerington
• Columbus Zoo
• Worthington Food Pantry
• Litter removal – Berwick, Bexley, Canal Winchester, Eastmoor and Merion Village
In addition, 17 homeowners were provided a variety of services in Blacklick, Clintonville, Columbus, Dublin, Galena, Johnstown, New Albany, Powell, Upper Arlington and Westerville.
“All of these home owners are experiencing difficulty – either because of their age or financial situation – or due to disease, loss of limb, or the loss of a loved one,” added Coridan. “Our goal was to make a difference for these homeowners – and the communities.”
For more information, visit www.ColumbusRealtors.com/RCD.
