Crystal Harris Named 2023 Good Neighbor Award Winner by The Salt Lake City Board of REALTORS®
In 2019, Crystal Harris, Sales Representative with EXIT Realty Ascendancy in Utah, noticed a need on a social media post for formal wear to attend a high school prom. Realizing that these special occasion dresses were not always readily available or accessible to everyone in her community, she developed a plan to collect donations of gently used dresses and formal wear items for those who could use them.
In the summer of 2023, the owner of the brokerage, Mandy Brown, used a public relations press release program made available by EXIT Realty Corp. International called EXIT Shoptok, to publicize Crystal’s initiative. Local media picked up the story for their Pay It Forward news feature just in time for homecoming.
The additional publicity brought the initiative to the attention of the Salt Lake City Board of REALTORS® who awarded Crystal their 2023 Good Neighbor Award.
According to The Salt Lake Board of REALTORS®:
Crystal decided to start collecting gently used formal attire with the aim of helping young women in the community attend their proms. Through the years, there have been many memorable moments, with mothers and daughters moved to tears by the support they receive.
One particularly impactful encounter took place in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when proms were allowed to resume. A group of girls, accompanied by a mother, sought assistance because their families had faced significant financial setbacks during the pandemic. These resilient young women found dresses they adored, and in a beautiful display of paying it forward, returned the week after their prom, dresses in hand, to support others.
To date, Crystal has assisted over 800 teens in obtaining dresses for various events, including prom, homecoming, winter ball, and pageants, and she does so without question or judgment. She extends her generosity by going the extra mile, often working beyond regular office hours to facilitate photo sessions, deliveries, and pickups for families who cannot drive to her office.
Crystal’s efforts have inspired the community to come together and contribute dresses throughout the year, continuously renewing this heartwarming cycle of goodwill.
“We have always tried to make our office able to do more than just help people buy and sell homes; we want to support and be a part of the community itself,” says Mandy. “Crystal has gone above and beyond over the years to show how much she cares for the entire community and to support them in any way she possibly can. Crystal’s Closet is just one of many things that she has done over the years to help others and show that support and connection. She is truly an amazing person and her willingness to put herself out there to help others is extraordinary.”
