Giving Back

Video courtesy of Monica Murhpy, WNDU-16

The year 2020 has looked very different for all of us, and it is especially profound during the holiday season when people are not gathering as much as usual. Cressy & Everett Real Estate usually hosts annual holiday gatherings for their REALTORS and staff throughout the footprint of our 12 office locations in southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana. With the current events and commitment to respect the safety guidelines, the leadership team had to think outside of the box. They wanted to create the feeling and experience of bringing everyone together, but somehow do it safely. So something special was crafted and strategically executed. 

This year, Cressy & Everett ordered about 200 take-home family meals from South Bend's LaSalle Grill restaurant, the recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award for 25 straight years, and known for expertly crafted fresh, local, sustainable food. The meals were distributed to agents and staff over the course of 3 days at different locations convenient for pick up, and the meals fed agents and staff and their families in their homes but also provided a good measure of local support.

"2020 has been a difficult year for so many people, personally as well as in business. So, when we have a chance to give back to others, and when we have a chance to bring our agents and staff together, and have them share a moment like they are sharing this weekend with these meals, that's really special to us." said President John De Souza.

Each family meal box contained a house salad, entrees choices, multiple sides and a dessert. Company branded swag was also provided in a bag including some drinking tumblers, some food serving tongs, and a card from the partners thanking each person for his or her contribution to the company.

An opportunity like this not only feeds employees and their families, it helped support a local business as well. Cressy & Everett prides itself on having a presence and demonstrating what it means to be a good corporate citizen, with proactive volunteer, public service and real help in the communities where we live, work and raise our families. With "Giving Back" as one of our most important core values, it was great to see some employees choosing to pay-it-forward with their meal in sharing or giving away, or in their donation of their meal box to families in need or groups of front-line workers such as local hospital healthcare workers.

As a real estate company, we understand how important Drone's are to getting a good visual of the surroundings below.  The Berrien County Sheriff's Department has implemented a Drone Program for aerial photography of local and interstate roads.  The idea is to use the donations from local businesses to upgrade the Drone Program to allow Berrien County Law Enforcement to be better prepared when vehicle emergencies arise.  They can fly drones to a location to get a visual of a road emergency to know exactly which law enforcement to dispatch.  The goal is to heighten the safety and security of our neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for the residents in Berrien County.  Cressy & Everett Real Estate is proud to donate to this worthy Drone Program.

Real Estate Broker, Annie Logan of Cressy & Everett Real Estate stands proud next to her original painting she donated for the auction event.  The buyer, Nick Wyse, Real Estate Broker with ReMax Results said "I would've paid alot more...I absolutely love it."  

Each year around this time, the Elkhart County Board of Realtors hosts a luncheon and auction event to raise money for local charities.  This event did not dissappoint.  With live auction items and silent auction and general company contributions over $30,647 was raised...ALL BY REALTORS in the room!  Real Estate Affiliate members contributed gifts for the auction as well as local Real Estate Brokerages, and individual Brokers.  One item donated by Cressy & Everett Real Estate was a flat screen curved TV which sold for over $800...and another Cressy & Everett Broker, Annie Logan,  donated her own piece of artwork, which sold to a fellow Realtor, Nick Wyse from ReMax Results, for nearly $400.  These were just two examples of how giving this group is in their spirit and wallet.

All in all, over $30,647 was raised...by REALTORS in the room and company donations.  We are so blessed to be working with this group. 

Here are the local charities who will receive these funds:

• Goshen & Elkhart Salvation Army
  • The Salvation Army, founded in 1866, is an international religious and charitable organization. The Salvation Army provides assistance locally by providing clothing referrals, food, utilities, home-delivered Mobile Meals, Community Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas assistance and Adopt-A-Family.
• Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County
  • The Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County have been serving children since 1956. Many of these children are facing circumstances that seriously jeopardize their healthy development. But none are without hope! Our four Elkhart County Clubs are now serving over 3,000 youth, ages 6 through 18.
• In addition - The Realtors sponsored 370 Boys and Girls Club Memberships...an amazing act of giving!

View all the photos on our Facebook page here

As a real estate company, not everything we do is about houses.  We're about community and supporting organizations that make our communities better.  One corporate partnership we're proud of is with the South Bend Cubs.  As a first year ball club, the inaugural and record breaking season in 2015 was not only promising, but over the top.  Now in 2016, records are still being broken and we're happy to be a part of it.  If you're interested in seeing a game, contact us for tickets.