5 REALTORS® Earn Crucial Support to Grow Charities

Five REALTORS® who lead small-scale charitable efforts with strong growth potential have been chosen for the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2022 Volunteering Works grants and mentoring program. The recipients will each receive $1,000 toward their charities and a year of one-on-one mentoring from a member of the Good Neighbor Society, which is made up of past recipients of NAR’s annual Good Neighbor Awards.

“This year’s Volunteering Works recipients are truly an inspiration,” says 2023 NAR President Kenny Parcell. “They have dedicated their energy toward giving back to their communities and making a positive impact on the lives of others. I am proud they are taking the next step in their volunteering journey with this program. Their selfless commitment to serving others is a shining example of what it means to be a REALTOR®.”

This year’s 2022 Volunteering Works grant and mentoring recipients are:

• Debra Flower, Valley Realty Co. LLC, Elmwood Park, N.J.: Flower, PSA, AHWD, C2EX, is a volunteer leader with the Military Assistance Pantry, a program of the Great Falls Rotary Foundation that serves 99 veterans and their families. The food pantry has evolved into a resource center, helping veterans with clothing, medical equipment, housing and employment. Mentor match:  Christina Sauger, SFR, 2020 Good Neighbor Award winner, who will offer Flower new ideas to boost fundraising and to implement a strategic plan.
• Tisha B. Janigian, She Is Hope Realty, Encino, Calif.: In 2021, Janigian, MRP, founded She Is Hope LA, an organization devoted to building bridges and providing educational support for single mothers and their families. Mentor match:  Lei Barry, CRS, SRS, 2008 Good Neighbor Award winner, who will help Janigian identify housing grants to expand her services.
• Lana Homnick-Lee, USVI Sotheby’s International Realty, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands: Homnick-Lee, AHWD, SRS, C2EX, after fostering more than 200 cats, founded R.E.A.L. Cruzan Cats in 2016. The rescue organization promotes the humane treatment of cats on the island of St. Croix through rescue, education and adoption. Mentor match:  Debra Griggs, 2020 Good Neighbor, who will help Homnick-Lee expand fundraising, boost volunteer participation and increase social media exposure.
• Yvette Jones-Swanson, Real People Realty, Mokena, Ill.: Army veteran Jones-Swanson founded 100 Pretty Purses for Female Veterans, a nonprofit that provides gift cards, toiletries and other gifts to show respect and to connect women who have served our country with resources they need to overcome challenges. Mentor match:  Sharon Chambers-Gordon, 2021 Good Neighbor, who will help with strategic planning and leadership development.
• Janice Robertson, Real Estate Partners, Chattanooga, Tenn.: In 2014, Robertson, EPRO, C2EX, formed the Snack Pack Ministry, in which hundreds of volunteers assemble meal bags that are provided to more than 2,700 food-insecure children every weekend. Mentor match:  Bob Bell, CRS, 2021 Good Neighbor Award winner, who will assist Robertson in raising awareness and expanding the program’s reach.

Volunteering Works recipients were selected based on their proven devotion to their communities through volunteer efforts as well as the potential for their good works to be expanded or improved with the help of an expert mentor.