The 2019 NVAR Cares Committee provide a lifetime sponsorship to the three regional ReStores for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia. This NVAR Cares Team provided their home staging talents on May 29 to help the Chantilly ReStore with brisk sales that day. Furnishings are donated and sold each day, creating an ongoing need for new displays of merchandise. NVAR Cares Team: (L-R) Kathy Bonzano, Victoria Kiser, Sharon Hall, Sherry Skinner, Mary Ann Burstein, Casey Menish, Bethany Ellis, Nora Partlow, Margory Nunez Liza, Karlene Tolbert and Jill Landsman.

FROM HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES that help local non-profits, to behind-the-scenes work vetting non-profits as donation recipients, members of the NVAR Cares Committee spend countless volunteer hours working to improve the lives of our Northern Virginia neighbors.

Pictured on these pages are some examples of the many ways that NVAR Realtors® give back to the community.

Other June activities included sponsorship of the sixth-grade graduation party for the students of Graham Road Elementary School in Fairfax County as part of an ongoing partnership; sponsorship of the Alliance for Affordable Housing Solutions Leckey Forum; and attendance at the dedication of a Northern Virginia Habitat Home that they had helped to build.

Save the date of Nov. 6 for the second annual NVAR Cares Party with a Purpose at the Carlyle Club in Alexandria.  

Peter Nguyen and Joe Reef of the Reef Team, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, were major sponsors for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Greater Washington DC 9th Annual Red Shoe 5K /Run & Walk. The May 18 event raised more than $97,000. Pictured L to R: NVAR Cares Staff Liaison Jill Landsman, NVAR Cares Chair Mary Ann Burstein, NVAR Cares Co-Chair Casey Menish, NVAR Board member Peter Nguyen and NVAR CEO Ryan Conrad.

At the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on May 17, its leaders presented a proclamation declaring June to be National Homeownership Month. The proclamation recognized the work of developers, lenders, real estate professionals, nonprofit counselors, and government agencies in promoting and preserving homeownership opportunities for Fairfax County residents. NVAR President Christine Richardson attended.

Thanks to the outreach efforts of NVAR Cares member Susan Mekenney, three tables of NVAR members filled the room – and stage – at the Steps to Pathways Benefit Breakfast on May 22 at the Waterford in Springfield. The audience learned about the Pathway programs to prevent homelessness for those suffering with mental illness or co-occurring disorders by providing permanent housing solutions and related support services.

NVAR Cares Committee Member Kathy Bonzano (left) and Chair Mary Ann Burstein arrange decorations and furniture in the front of the Chantilly ReStore to ensure quick sales at the May 29 volunteer day.

Clients of the Pathways nonprofit served as “hosts” at the Steps to Pathways Benefit Breakfast on May 22 at the Waterford in Springfield. Pictured on the left with NVAR President-Elect Nicholas Lagos and NVAR President Christine Richardson is a breakfast host whose situation vastly improved, thanks to the excellent work of Pathway Homes professionals.