On day one, the climbers navigate the ledges heading up the mountain as they trek the Mountaineer’s Route.
NVAR Member Casey Menish Gives Back with Mountain Climb Fundraiser
ON JULY 17, 2019, 11 climbers braved the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, Mount Whitney, to benefit two nonprofits: the Wholehearted Foundation and the Paradigm Foundation. Casey Menish, a Realtor® with Pearson Smith Realty and vice-chair of the NVAR Cares Committee, was among the climbers – many of whom know each other through their real estate businesses.
“We are really blessed as Realtors®,” Menish said. “We have a unique position to interact with the community one-on-one and see what its needs are.”
The view over Iceberg Lake at sunrise.
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The climbers at the summit of Mount Whitney.
L to R front row: Tim Winter, Ryan Koppel and Natalie (guide).
L to R second row: Kurt Wedberg (lead guide), Diego Phillips, Chris Soteropoulos, Billy Reilly, Casey Menish, Silas Sperry, Dan Cook and Simon (guide).
L to R third row: Stuart Sperry and Jacob Leidy.
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This was the second climb for Menish, Jacob Leidy, and the founders of each of the nonprofits – Ryan Koppel and Tim Winter – who all summited Mount Rainier two years ago and raised 60,000 dollars. After a year of recovery, the group began planning for Mount Whitney. The 11-member team spent one year training, including a few hikes in the days leading up to the summit to acclimate to the high altitude, and successfully summited Mount Whitney in just two days.
The climbers paid for the trip and gear completely out of pocket, and all proceeds raised were split between the two organizations. Menish said some of her biggest supporters were past clients who she stays connected with on social media.
The Wholehearted Foundation provides assistance – spiritually, financially, relationally and through program awareness – to families whose children receive cardiac care at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The foundation was founded by Ryan Koppel, director of business development for Champion Title & Settlements, and his wife, Kristen Koppel, after spending extended time in the hospital with their son, who has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).
The Paradigm Foundation, founded by Tim Winter, owner of Paradigm Building Group, and his wife, Jen Winter, uses its home-building expertise to build homes for families in the Dominican Republic and Kenya. The organization is currently planning a trip to Kenya for the beginning of 2020, which Menish plans to attend.
Menish said Realtors® are fortunate to have many opportunities to give back because of their close ties with the community and their flexible work schedules.
“Not everybody has to do everything,” she said. “It’s about finding something that touches our hearts and figuring out how we can best give back, because it’s something we are passionate about.”
The Mount Whitney climbers, consisting of real estate professionals, friends and family, demonstrate what the Realtor® community is all about: forming meaningful connections and helping people in need, whether for a happy heart or a happy home.
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