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Parkersburg realtors group helps communities

Raises $10K at benefit auction

VIENNA — The Parkersburg Area Association of Realtors, Community Service Committee held its largest ever fundraiser for giving back in the communities it serves, the group said.

The realtors group held a live auction, which raised $10,000, on Nov. 14 at the Parkersburg Country Club.

The volunteer committee consists of six active committee members for local real estate offices and realtor volunteers needed for assisting with special events. Ed Williams, auctioneer, has helped the organization by giving his time for the charitable event, officials said.

The proceeds from this auction assist families and individuals.

“We accept detailed referrals from all offices in our organization for referral candidates and they are thoroughly reviewed,” said Geni Astorg, committee chairperson and realtor with Real Living McCarthy Real Estate.

“It is heartwarming to know a child will have a winter coat, boots or other necessities. We have paid electric bills, given gas cards so doctor’s appointments are kept. We also sponsor four at-risk students by working with a local school and all that work is anonymous,” said Astorg.

Three years ago, Astorg said, she believed the realtors group needed a slogan to set its committee apart “due to the nature of the work we do representing approximately 187 realtors, all real estate offices in our local real estate association (PAAR).”

The group adopted “Have A Heart Realtors Helping Others.”

“We use this on every event we do. In the world we live in everyone is always busy but I encourage realtors to participate. Due to the nature of the work we do, this committee is very hands on and the results are personally rewarding. We are truly a hands on group working to give back. We spend hours of volunteer time. Every dollar we raise after keeping expenses to a minimum goes to the organization or project we are working on,” Astorg said.

“Our local business partners are also very supportive of us throughout the year. Local real estate attorneys, many banks, home inspectors, and other professionals we do business with assist as sponsors with events and luncheons we do during the year,” Astorg said. “We had seven partners step up and sponsor the auction this year: Dave Palmer-Palmer & Titus Law, Vance Golden and Tim Amos Attorneys, Justin Raber Attorney, Movement Mortgage, Prime Lending, Title First Agency, and United Bank.”

The first event the realtors association had generated just over $3,000 and has grown to this year’s $10,000.

The realtors association has assisted Urban Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Family Crisis and Intervention Center and the Humane Society, along with stocking many community food pantries and pantries in several schools, assisted the local Disabled Veterans, Latrobe Street Mission, Kids First, Catholic Charities, CASA, and Voices of the Streets.

The need in the local communities is overwhelming, said Astorg.

“Giving back is a core value of this committee and we strongly believe giving back is a key factor in what we do. Each year the situations become more overwhelming. If you have $10,000 you wish you had $100,000,” she said.

“It is never enough, but by assisting children or adults it is just letting them know that people care about them. One of the very first high school students we assisted was totally self supporting and with coaching did graduate,” Astorg said.

The student is working and now is paying it forward to a younger sibling. This makes the volunteer job priceless, she said.

In 2016 the committee received recognition from West Virginia Association of Realtors with the Mary Pauley Award for outstanding community service, competing against real estate organizations from across the state of West Virginia.

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