At RISMedia’s September 2016 Real Estate CEO Exchange, an impromptu auction led by CEO John Featherston raised $2,400 for Easter Seals, a nonprofit that assists more than one million children, adults and veterans with disabilities and special needs.
The item auctioned to two CEO attendees was a signed copy of “Jacob’s War,” written by CEO Exchange opening keynote speaker Alex Perriello, president and chief executive officer of the Realogy Franchise Group and member of NAR’s Executive Committee.
While “Jacob’s War” has nothing to do with real estate, it does have to do with another topic close to many real estate professionals hearts: veterans. A unique Revolutionary War story set in New Jersey, 100 percent of the profits from the sale of the book are being donated to the Easter Seals Military and Veteran Services.
At the end of the CEO Exchange’s opening session, Featherston auctioned off two copies of the book for $600 each, promising to match this contribution himself, raising a total of $2,400 for the nonprofit.
“Reading Alex Perriello’s compelling novel ’Jacob’s War,’ I found myself consumed by Lieutenant Jacob Von Etten’s journey and the cause that changed his and our lives, the Revolutionary War,” says Featherston.
“It was an easy decision to bid in support of raising funds for Easter Seals,” says Jim Pfirrmann, CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Bradfield Properties and one of the two winning bidders. “Alex’s service to the members of the Easter Seals community as a member of the national board is important to the culture of our brokerage. Better Homes and Gardens Bradfield Properties had already donated over $8,000 to Easter Seals of Central Texas this year and we wanted to do more to support ‘Jacob’s War’”
“At the RISMedia conferences, we are a group of real estate leaders,” explains Morgan Carey of Real Estate Webmasters Inc, who took home the second signed copy of “Jacob’s War”. “As such, it is up to us to set an example for our companies and teams and to represent our industry in the best light possible. This includes many important aspects, but there are none so important as giving back whenever we can. Personally and for all the staff at Real Estate Webmasters Inc., providing help for those less fortunate is a very important part of our culture.”
“Easter Seals helps so many families dealing with challenges,” says Pfirrmann, “whether it’s a child with Autism and a family struggling to understand how to deal with this newfound information or a veteran returning home needing to find a new vocation due to injury or a grandmother who winds up in a wheelchair and now needs housing modification to stay in her home. Easter Seals provides vital assistance for any age group and any disability.”
The Easter Seals mission resonates with Carey, as well. “I am a father of two and I grew up with a single mother with disabilities – I understand intimately both aspects of the Easter Seals mission. Easter Seals works to help ease this stress on families and provides access to important services that improve the quality of life for these very special families. It’s a great organization and I am always thrilled to support its mission.”
Jacob’s War can be purchased on Amazon. One hundred percent of the book’s profits will go to Easter Seals.
