In an effort to carry forward the spirit of giving, beyond the holiday season, Elias Thomas, Broker Owner of EXIT Key Real Estate in Shapleigh, ME, came up with a project called January Thaw for the Sanford Housing Authority. In collaboration with the Rotary Club of Sanford-Springvale and Kai Asian Fusion Restaurant, he helped raise money to benefit the homeless within the community and provide attendees with both FUNDraising and FUNraising opportunities.
Tickets to the event were sold by EXIT Key Real Estate sales professionals for $30 per ticket, which allowed the attendee to sample various food items from the Kai Asian Fusion Restaurant. Guests were also asked to bring at least one warm item such as mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, or warm socks. EXIT Key Real Estate also sponsored the event.
A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund. Through the Spirit of EXIT Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Program, EXIT offices and associates can raise money for local, approved, registered charities and apply to EXIT’s head office to have those funds matched from the company’s pool of funds. Elias and his team of professionals raised $4,000 which EXIT’s head office was proud to match, for a total donation of $8,000 to the Sanford Housing Authority.
“The fundraiser brings more than just warm items and monetary donations. It provides us an opportunity to create awareness of the homelessness issue. This time of year is the worst for people experiencing homelessness. After the holidays, often donations to help people decrease significantly. People may not be “seen” as they are trying to find a warm place to be, whether that is sheltered inside or huddled in a doorway; it is cold and stressful and extremely dangerous. Thank you to all who are helping. The gift of warmth and the ability to provide true and available resources to people to help them out of homelessness is one of the greatest things we can do as a community,” said Diane Gerry, Executive Director of Sanford Housing Authority.
