Members of the Greater Gateway Association of REALTORS® met for two events in December to help the less fortunate, and the results of their generosity will be spread to many individuals in a variety of communities.

These REALTORS® participated in REALTOR® Ring Day on Dec. 4 with the Salvation Army and hosted an annual Christmas Charity Celebration on Dec. 10.  Although results of the Salvation Army project were not available, 210 Greater Gateway members and affiliate members each donated a new toy to be distributed among 10 local charities helping children in southwestern Illinois:

  • Collinsville Food Pantry, Collinsville;
  • Community Care Center, Granite City;
  • Crisis Food Center, Alton;
  • I.S. Kids, Highland;
  • Ministries Unlimited, Troy;
  • Oasis Women’s Center, Alton;
  • River Bend Family Ministries, Wood River;
  • Staunton Lions Club, Staunton;
  • THANKS, Edwardsville; and
  • Toys for Joy, Greenville.

“Our REALTORS® are so connected to the communities they serve, especially during the holidays,” says Greater Gateway Association of REALTORS® Chief Executive Officer Rob Wigton. “They step up before we even have to ask them for help. I know our REALTORS® feel they receive more than the charities they serve when giving their time and material gifts.

“REALTORS® know their communities inside and out, and they know of the great needs of those less fortunate,” Wigton says. “We are so lucky to have an association made up of caring REALTORS® who always step up and contribute their time and money when asked, especially during the holiday season when the need is so great.”

Greater Gateway officers for 2016 are: Chairman of the Board Tammy Owens (RE/MAX Alliance, Collinsville); Chairman-Elect Sandy Michel (Heart and Home Realty, Vandalia); and Vice Chairman Mark Massey (Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Elite Properties, Edwardsville). The association serves REALTORS® in Bond, Calhoun, Fayetteville, Jersey, Madison, Macoupin, Monroe and Montgomery counties.

(This blog post is one in a series of blog posts about charitable community work performed by local Illinois REALTORS® during the last six weeks of the year. To see all the stories in the series, search for “charitable giving.”)