Realtors From Florida Honored for Giving Back

CHICAGO — Three Realtors from Florida are among the five agents selected for the annual Volunteering Works grants and mentoring program – the National Association of Realtors®’ highest honor for members involved in community service.

Volunteering Works recipients were selected based on devotion to their communities through volunteer endeavors and the potential for their good works to be expanded or improved with the help of an expert mentor.

Each winner will receive a $1,000 seed grant and a year of one-on-one mentoring to improve their charitable efforts and expand their impact. The program, run by NAR and the Good Neighbor Society (a group of past recipients of NAR’s annual Good Neighbor Awards) is in its 16th year.

 “These recipients embody the spirit of service that defines our profession,” NAR President Kevin Sears said. “Their creativity and commitment strengthen communities in ways big and small. By pairing them with experienced mentors, we can help expand their reach and inspire even more members to make a difference.”

Florida’s Volunteering Works Grant and Mentoring recipients:

Iris Beaugrand, Coppola Realty Group, Englewood

When Iris Beaugrand moved to Florida, she brought along two rescued horses, a donkey, a cat and a dog. Her love for animals soon inspired her to establish Fandango Sanctuary, now home to more than 100 rescued farm animals, many once injured or abandoned. The sanctuary benefits people, too: Iris welcomes seniors, veterans and individuals with special needs to care for the animals, creating powerful connections. “I have some volunteers who are usually nonverbal who really get excited when they touch and interact with the animals. And the formerly abused animals learn to trust again,” she said. Beaugrand’s mentor is Gail Doxie, a 2014 Good Neighbor Award honoree and founder of Miles of Smiles Ranch in Fort Myers.

Maria Flores Correa, La Rosa Realty Kissimmee, Kissimmee

Maria Flores Correa founded Fundación Horeb Believe in 2021 to provide financial literacy education entirely in Spanish. She organizes workshops and creates Spanish-language materials to teach personal finance, credit building and homeownership. “Seeing people regain their faith and purpose has been my biggest reward,” she said. With her passion and vision, she hopes a mentor will help her build systems, source sustainable funding, and engage in strategic planning to expand her reach. Flores Correa’s mentor is MaliVai Washington, a 2023 Good Neighbor Award winner and founder of the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation in Jacksonville.

Julia D’Arts, Key Classic Realty LLC, Clermont

Julia D’Arts empowers people to rebuild their lives after experiencing domestic violence. As founder of the nonprofit I Am A Safe Place, she offers workshops, court advocacy, emergency shelter and educational opportunities to those experiencing domestic violence. “The greatest reward is being a safe place, providing emotional support and connecting survivors with resources, love and support,” she said. Her goal is to acquire a property that will enable her to provide safe transitional housing. She hopes to learn from a mentor how to navigate bureaucratic and community resistance, as well as launch an awareness campaign to build support and partnerships. D’Arts’ mentor is Sandra Shank, a 2023 Good Neighbor Award winner and founder of Abundant Life Ministries–Hope House Inc. in Palm Coast.

Other recipients:

Ted Biedrzycki, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Capitol Area, Harrisburg, Penn.

In just two years as co-president of Off The Streets, Ted Biedrzycki has helped more than 400 formerly homeless people find stable housing by paying their security deposits and furnishing apartments. “Many of the people we help would remain homeless if we didn’t provide their security deposit,” he said. Biedrzycki hopes his mentor can guide him on innovative fundraising and ways to attract younger volunteers. Biedrzycki’s mentor is Lei Barry, a 2008 Good Neighbor Award winner and founder of Family Promise in suburban Philadelphia.

Katie Day, Maloney Real Estate, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Katie Day is passionate about helping both people and pets living on Native American reservations, where they often lack the funding and facilities to care for the overpopulation of stray animals. Relying on donations, small local grants and out-of-pocket funding, she runs Almost Home Canine Rescue, which has placed nearly 2,000 dogs and 450 cats in new homes. “We never refuse medical treatment for any animal that comes in,” said Day. She hopes a mentor will help her attract more volunteers to foster pets and organize fundraisers. Day’s mentor is Joy Nelson, a 2018 Good Neighbor Award winner and founder of Joy Ranch in Watertown, South Dakota.

Source: National Association of Realtors

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