The holidays are all about spreading love and joy throughout the community. Whether organizing a local toy drive, attending a town fundraiser, donating to a worthy cause or simply smiling at a stranger, it’s nearly impossible not to find yourself caught up in the spirit of giving. This season, our company’s many brokerages have once again joined the holiday cheer, volunteering both time and effort in supporting individuals throughout Connecticut and Westchester County in more ways than one.
Fairfield County:
- Ridgefield:
Our Ridgefield brokerage recently helped five local families by donating to the Evelyn C. Peeler Children’s Holiday Gift Fund. This charity helps make the holidays brighter for the less fortunate children in Ridgefield by providing them with gifts of new clothing. The families also receive food certificates to help with their holiday meals. The Ridgefield office additionally won a third place ribbon at the 16th biennial Tree Festival at the Ridgefield Community Center. The historic Lounsbury House was adorned with Christmas decorations, including a forest of creatively decorated Christmas trees. All proceeds benefitted the Ridgefield Community Center, which serves as the heartbeat of Ridgefield community life in collaboration with the town, its citizens and organizations.
- Southport:
From now until December 31st, our Southport brokerage will be accepting non-perishable, packaged food donations to benefit the Operation Hope Food Pantry in Fairfield, CT. Operation Hope, a local nonprofit that was founded in 1986, provides food and shelter to Fairfield and Southport residents, distributing more than 123,000 meals per year. Please drop off any items at our Southport Village office, located at 250 Pequot Avenue, during normal business hours.
- Darien:
Team members from our Darien brokerage held an annual Toys to Tots drive, fulfilling their whole list and collection box twice! The office also assisted the local efforts of Person-To-Person, a community-run agency that provides emergency assistance for basic needs, supporting individuals and families as they move towards stability. All holiday donations, which included essential and practical items, were given to both the children and parents.
- Stamford:
Stamford held another Toys for Tots drive, and also “adopted” a child from the Youth Services of New Canaan. In this, the brokerage was assigned a family with a wish list, and left with the task to successfully complete that list as a “Secret Santa,” remaining completely anonymous. Youth Services then received the gift donations, eventually delivering them to the “adopted” child’s family.
- New Canaan:
Our New Canaan office was proud to once again be a Platinum sponsor of the New Canaan Holiday House tour, which featured five homes decorated beautifully by local interior designers. All proceeds from the inspirational and seasonal event supported various non-profit organizations around town. New Canaan agent Rachel Walsh additionally spearheaded an office toy drive to provide presents to children of needy families throughout the community.
- Northern Fairfield County:
Our Northern Fairfield County brokerage was all about donating this holiday season! The office provided a tree to Ann’s Festival of Trees, a festive holiday tradition organized to support Ann’s Place in the comfort, support and resources the organization offers to people in the community living with cancer. Members also donated a treasure chest-themed gift basket complete with four different cash prizes to the Northern Fairfield County Association of Realtors’ annual Holiday Luncheon. This event supports various charities including Ann’s Place, Ability Beyond Disability and the Special Olympics, as well as Danbury Hospice.
Litchfield County:
- Washington Depot:
Our Washington Depot brokerage recently raised money for the Washington Community Fund. This non-profit organization works to support members of the community by providing food and other forms of assistance to the less fortunate. Nina Johnson, a staff member from the company’s Washington Depot office who has supported the fund for numerous years, led the charitable collection.
Connecticut Shoreline:
- Essex and Old Lyme:
Our Old Lyme and Essex brokerages gave back to the community in several ways this holiday season. From coat, sock and toy drives, to raising funds for various local charities such as the Shoreline Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity and more, our dedicated shoreline team members and agents have sure been busy.
Westchester County:
Rye:
At the Rye office’s holiday party, a grab bag was held in which everyone brought a wrapped gift. When a festive “onesie” was unwrapped, everyone wanted it. Due to its unusually high popularity, the “onesie” was auctioned off for charity at an impressive price, with all proceeds going to Westchester County’s nonprofit My Sisters’ Place, and its mission to fight domestic violence. The Rye brokerage also collected gift cards and coats to contribute to the Holy Rosary Parish, a Catholic charity in the town of Port Chester, N.Y. In addition to donating, agents and their children have participated in the Holy Rosary Parish’s annual Christmas breakfast for over a decade, together working to support its efforts and give back to the Westchester County community. At this year’s event, the children of Rye agents Louis Katsoris and Liz Ross volunteered, assisting as enthusiastic servers.
- Bronxville:
This holiday season, the Bronxville office provided additional support to My Sisters’ Place, donating money in lieu of gifts. The prominent local Westchester County organization works to fights domestic violence by supporting victims, while also providing community education and working toward social change.
- Larchmont:
Larchmont team members sponsored the Larchmont Chamber of Commerce in its quest to promote shopping local. Their love for the community of Larchmont continues with the brokerage’s “selfie contest,” which offers the lucky winner a $1,000 shopping spree in the town to encourage individuals to keep supporting local businesses.
