Diane Farr, Franchisee of EXIT Realty of the Smokies in Kodak, TN, and her team of real estate professionals, wanted to be neighborly and assist the Northview Volunteer Fire Department. The NVFD is responsible for an area of about 35 square miles with roughly 17,000 permanent residents. They reached out in November with a letter asking for help to reach their goal of buying five Heart Start FRx-AED Defibrillators so that each response vehicle would be equipped with one of these life saving devices.
From December 1, 2020 until December 31, 2020 the team at EXIT Realty of the Smokies raised money through word of mouth, social media, and door-to-door canvassing. When asked why she chose this specific charity, Diane replied, “The Northview VFD is literally next door to our office. We hear the sirens and pray for the community. Anything we can do to help them is what we should be doing.”
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 pledged pool of funds. Diane hoped to raise $5,000 which EXIT’s head office was proud to match, however she exceeded her goal and raised $5,801 for a total of $10,801 to the Northview Volunteer Fire Department.
“Northview Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank EXIT Realty of the Smokies for the fundraiser to purchase 5 Heart Start AED’s, with this we will be able to equip 3 fire engines and 2 support trucks with the AED’s,” said Heidi Satterfield, Battalion Chief of NVFD.