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Winning a national award is a great source of pride for any REALTOR®, but it can also be very rewarding for the local and state real estate association. The Good Neighbor Award, which recognizes REALTORS® for making an extraordinary impact on their community through volunteer work, has become one of the most revered accolades that an NAR member can achieve. Their associations take pride in having nominated and supported someone who does so much to help others in the community.
The Indiana Association of REALTORS®, for example, has had three Good Neighbor winners in recent years. “One of the things associations are uniquely positioned to do is convey peer recognition, which is incredibly meaningful to the individual honored,” says Karl F. Berron, CAE, the association’s CEO. “But it also allows us to hold up recipients internally as examples to other members, and externally as ambassadors for our industry. Its been a really positive experience for IAR.
Good Neighbor Award winners are recognized during the REALTORS® Conference & Expo as a centerpiece of the General Session, where they always draw a standing ovation. Winners are featured on the cover of the November/December issue of REALTOR® Magazine, which goes to more than 1 million readers.
In addition to the benefits to the REALTOR® and his or her nonprofit, the association also enjoys: inspiring content for your publications, national and hometown publicity, increased member interest and morale, $10,000 investment into the charity and the community, and the potential to get other members involved.
Each year, five Good Neighbor Award winners receive a $10,000 grant for their nonprofits. Winners also receive travel expenses to the conference and considerable national and local media exposure for their cause. In addition to the winners, five honorable mentions each receive a $2,500 grant. “The Good Neighbor Awards remind us that REALTORS® lead the way in building stronger communities in positive ways,” says National Association of REALTORS® President Tom Salomone, broker owner of Real Estate II, Inc. in Margate, Fla.
Nominees must be NAR members. Their volunteer work does not have to be related to housing or real estate. The nomination deadline is May 13. For an entry form visit nar.realtor/gna. Questions? Contact Sara Geimer, sgeimer@realtors.org, 773-459-6627.