Real Estate Analysis and Commentary in Tulsa

Let's take a minute and talk about something non-real estate related, but real estate related. Make sense? 

Backpack for Kids

Several years ago I was able to help a group start something that has become a huge success among the Tulsa real estate community. The Greater Tulsa Association of REALTORS has a non-profit 501C3 Foundation (GTAR Foundation). The foundation over the years primarily did small projects once a year such as Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity Build Day, United Way, etc. 

The idea was presented to raise money to buy backpacks, stuffed with not school supplies, but school clothes and toiletries. They would be given to students through a partnership with Family and Children's Services. Each backpack is "stuffed" with first day of school clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, soap, shampoo, socks, shoes, and just about anything else we could get donated. 

We started with a small amount of backpacks in the first couple of years and quickly grew to over 500 backpacks per year. Brokers would pass a bucket around the office or at sales meetings and agent literally put change in the bucket in order to raise the funds. The group has grown into different types of fundraising such as having two golf tournaments per year and doing wine pulls at the annual banquet. The GTAR Foundation has raised over $600,000 and is hoping to have their best year yet.  

Good Luck Backpacks! Keep up the good work. Cotrill Realty Group is happy to continue to play a small role in helping achieve their goal.