Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005

 

Re/Max Relay for Kids initiative deemed a success

Last June, a bold initiative named Relay For Kids was launched from Re/Max Regional Services for the purpose of raising funds for the Children's Miracle Network, an organization which raises monies for Children's Hospitals throughout the nation.

It required participation from thousands of Re/Max brokers and sales associates, commitment, money and most importantly, largesse of heart.

After four months where a baton simulating a track and field relay containing pledges was relayed from office to office traveling hundreds of miles by car, airplane, trains and Re/Max hot-air balloons through towns in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Southern Ohio, the baton reached its final destination: Cincinnati, Ohio.

In Georgia, the baton traveled to Carrollton, Atlanta, Macon, Stone Mountain, Warner Robbins, East Point, Suwanee and Blue Ridge.

It arrived to Cincinnati to much fanfare and celebration at the Reds' stadium where hundreds of Re/Max sales associates, their families and friends awaited to discover that the final tally during its voyage was the sum of $213,000. The party was celebrated with a fly-over of four Re/Max balloons, a Children's Miracle Network balloon and a soaring Home balloon which is the size and shape of a real house.

Brokers raised funds in the most innovative ways-casinos, petting zoos, carnivals and auctioning off hot-air balloons rides. There were many cake bakes, sports memorabilia auctions, garage sales, passing-of-the-hat and individual donations from commissions to raise such a sum.

"When people put their heads together and work as a team, they can achieve wonderful things," says Darko Kapelina, Manager of Operations at Re/Max and the man whose idea it was to raise funds through a relay. Kapelina is a strong advocate of community citizenship and a believer that doing good makes for a better society.

Re/Max is the real estate sponsor of the Children's Miracle Network, an organization which raises funds for 17 Children's Hospitals throughout the nation.

The Re/Max franchise network is a global real estate system operating in 57 countries. More than 5,700 independently owned offices engage 112,000 member sales associates who lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production while providing real estate services in residential, commercial, referral, relocation, and asset management. For more information, visit www.remax.com.