Giving Tuesday: A Time of ‘Global Generosity’

By Kerry Smith

It’s #GivingTuesday – a time to help those who are less fortunate. Realtors support a huge range of charitable endeavors, including three backed by Florida Realtors.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Giving Tuesday debuted in 2011 and was nicknamed “hashtag activism”– a “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.”

Florida’s many Realtors support – and in some cases created – a huge range of charities, which Florida Realtors highlighted this year in its Realtor Heart presentation. The 26 Florida members featured in the program provide services to help those with diseases such as breast cancer, homelessness, the environment, animal shelters, sea turtles and many more causes.

In addition to member-supported charities, Florida Realtors has three association-backed charities worthy of consideration: The Disaster Relief Fund, Silent Angels and the state’s “Homeownership for All” license plate.

Disaster Relief Fund

Florida Realtors Disaster Relief Fund says it’s “There When You Need It.”

The fund assists Realtors, local boards/associations and their staff after a natural disaster – hurricanes, tornadoes or other unexpected events. If an area is hit by a natural disaster, those impacted can fill out one of two forms – one for individual assistance and one for a broker whose office has been damaged.

Tax-deductible Disaster Relief Fund donations can be sent securely online with a credit card, or checks can be mailed in. Visit the webpage for more information.

Silent Angels

Life sometimes throws curveballs, and people facing a dire need have somewhere they can turn through Silent Angels. Founded in 2002 by Realtors, Silent Angels provides funds, supplies and services to individuals with medical issues, job losses or other hardships.

“Reaching out and helping people in dire need – that’s what Silent Angels is all about," according to the website. But it’s “also about bringing joy, touching hearts and improving lives. So why are we silent? Because doing the right thing is all that really matters.”

Florida Realtors created a video to show how Silent Angels helps others. To donate, visit the website. Tax-deductible donations can be submitted online through PayPal or with a credit card.

‘Homeownership for All’ license plates

While a license plate purchase isn’t a traditional donation for #GivingTuesday, the state license plate created by Florida Realtors members in support of affordable housing – Homeownership for All – has raised more than $1 million so far to help Floridians become homeowners.

According to the website, the license plate was created to “help fund affordable housing programs across Florida. The goal is to provide housing assistance to teachers, nurses and others unable to afford a home.”

For Realtors, the license plate is also a visible confirmation of their support for housing issues and the importance of homeownership.

The Florida Realtors specialty license plate is available online, by mail or at any county tax collector’s office. It costs $25 above the usual state fees for a license, with that money going to affordable housing programs throughout Florida.

For more information or to buy the plate online (a small convenience fee is added for online purchases), visit homeownershipforall.org.

Reprinted with permission. Click Here to see the original article.