By Jacki Thornburg, Broker/Owner, EXIT Realty Heart Properties, Ocean Springs, MS
Zebra Fest is an event our office puts on every year to raise awareness and money for The United MSD Foundation. Beginning in February our agents were out in the community collecting donations and silent auction items from local businesses and neighbors. The event itself was held on March 6th at a local business where guests enjoyed a spaghetti dinner, drinks, music, and a 50/50 raffle while placing bids on silent auction items. All food and auction items were donations, so 100% of the money that came in from the event went straight to the United MSD Foundation.
The Foundation is very dear to my heart. My good friend started what would eventually become The United MSD Foundation when her daughter Willow was diagnosed with Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency in 2016. This rare genetic disorder impedes every aspect of a child’s development, requiring around the clock care for their entire lives and drastically shortens life expectancy. Though Willow wasn’t saved by the efforts of The United MSD Foundation, they are now actively pursuing human clinical trials of the gene therapy that cures MSD.
Our associates took a very hands-on role in this initiative. They reached out to business owners, neighbors, and friends to collect donations for silent auction items that were featured during Zebra Fest. They also volunteered their time promoting the event, organizing and pricing donations, event planning, event set up, and of course helping to host on the big day.
This was our fifth annual Zebra Fest benefiting The United MSD Foundation and it is historically something that really brings our office together. We raised $5,500 through our event and with EXIT Realty Corp. International’s additional donation of $3,000, we donated a total of $8,500 to The United MSD Foundation.
A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund. Through the Spirit of EXIT Charitable 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.
A beautiful and inspiring story!