Annual Impact Report 2021

In addition to maintaining strong support for the Miracle Home Program this year, RE/MAX agents, brokers and offices in Alberta drove a number of other initiatives this year – from the Calgary Stampede Breakfasts to fundraising golf tournaments. The result was a remarkable $629,000 in funds raised for Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (ACHF). These funds will support family-centred child health programs, specialized life-saving equipment and advanced pediatric research and education at the Hospital. This year once again, the local RE/MAX Committee in the ACHF region made extra efforts to go the distance for children and youth in our region – not only supporting CMN individually but supporting planning and engagement work to create opportunities for colleagues to contribute as well.

For the first time ever, in 2021 RE/MAX agents and offices collectively raised over $1 million dollars in a single year for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. In addition to being an impressive milestone for RE/MAX in Western Canada, this new record is a fitting way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the RE/MAX-CMN partnership.

A key ingredient in RE/MAX’s fundraising success in the BC region is teams’ commitment to finding new ways to deliver support — over and above strong participation in the Miracle Home Program. This year once again, a team of RE/MAX Agents from RE/MAX Select Properties, RE/MAX Select Realty and RE/MAX Westcoast came together to host their annual Big Give Golf tournament, raising close to $34,000, a new record for the event. “We were thrilled that we could go ahead with an in-person tournament in 2021,” said organizing committee representatives Valerie Laurendeau and Janelle de la Torre. “Despite the rain, everyone had a great time and enjoyed a day on the golf course, all for a cause that means so much to all of us!”

“The saying ‘charity begins at home but should not end there’ is what comes to mind when I think about celebrating RE/MAX and its Miracle Home Program. The company is celebrating a remarkable 30 years of fundraising for children’s hospitals. Their signature program relies on its legion of agents coming together and donating part of their commission to further improvements to care and research at CHEO. They take it a step further, often dedicating client appreciation events to further their fundraising. It comes full circle when the agents align with the CHEO Foundation to offer support to the children and families in the communities where we all work, live and play. We are so appreciative of everything RE/MAX does to ensure the Ottawa region has the absolute best in care for our kids.” — Barbara Stead-Coyle, President and CEO of the CHEO Foundation

The broker for RE/MAX Sarnia Realty, April Barnard has led her team in both real estate and community giving in recent years, as property prices have soared and agents have faced increased competition in finding homes for their clients. Through the RE/MAX Miracle Home Program, the Sarnia team continues to energetically raise funds for Children’s Hospital in London. April encourages her team to give generously, and there’s no question that she walks the talk. In 2021, April herself donated nearly $30,000 to her local CMN hospital, the most an agent in the region has ever given in one year. For April, it’s gratifying to be able to give back and see how funds are helping on a local level. “I love being a part of the RE/MAX team and a contributor to CMN because I get to see the donations go directly to children in Sarnia-Lambton, which helps make a difference in the lives of our local families.”

In 2021, the RE/MAX Miracle Home Program delivered a remarkable $188,513 in support of the IWK Foundation — the region’s highest total to date. “As our regional real estate market continues to experience unprecedented growth, we are incredibly grateful to RE/MAX for its record-breaking support of the IWK this past year,” says Jennifer Gillivan, President & CEO, of the IWK Foundation. “The dedication of RE/MAX agents in our region is making an important difference to the Maritime children and families who rely on specialized care at the IWK every day.” One important driver of this year’s record-setting performance was the decision of RE/MAX Nova (Halifax) to set a minimum donation for agents, which more than doubled the office’s contribution to over $73,000.

While agents in the Maritimes have been navigating exceptional market conditions, their reasons for supporting the IWK remain the same: “Our team of agents and brokers are motivated by the opportunity to offer support through funding that helps to provide care and treatments for many courageous kids,” says Gordon Breau, Broker/Owner, RE/MAX Professionals Saint John Inc. “The incredible work of the IWK has such a strong impact on the lives of children, women and their families.”

Craig Piercey has been supporting the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation for 23 years, making tens of thousands of dollars in cumulative contributions through the Miracle Home Program as an agent with RE/MAX Infinity Realty. Even with this remarkable history of generosity, in 2021 Craig was inspired to do even more when he read about the history of care 7-year-old Nathan Windsor had received through the Janeway. “As a real estate agent, I spend my days working with families who are looking for a new place to call home,” Craig explains. “I get to see firsthand the importance for them to have a safe and comfortable place, to grow and be together. This year, instead of individual closing gifts to all of my clients, I thought that in that same spirit of family, I would donate to the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation on all of their behalf. That way, they could take comfort knowing that the joy of their own house closing would help bring that same sense of safety, comfort and togetherness to other families as well.” To support kids like Nathan and as a tribute to all the families who found homes through his work, in 2021 Craig made a $10,000 holiday donation to the Janeway — an extraordinary gesture from a steadfast champion of children’s health.

Building on a long history of support and impact in Manitoba, the RE/MAX partnership continues to flourish, making an enormous difference for the children, youth and families from across Manitoba who rely on the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg. Amid the challenges of the pandemic, Children’s Hospital has relied on the immense generosity of everyone involved in the Miracle Home Program. While some offices have been involved for many years, new offices continue to lend their support to the cause. This year, we’re proud to recognize the RE/MAX One Group for making such strong contributions after just two short years of participation. Since becoming a Miracle Office in 2020, this group has raised nearly $30,000 — and attracted almost full office participation in 2021. These amazing results are driven by a highly engaged broker and agents who are truly dedicated to our cause. The hospital and foundation teams are deeply grateful for all the agents, brokers and office teams that help to keep this vital relationship growing.

In a strong housing market, RE/MAX Canada agents and brokers across south-central Ontario continued to prioritize support for McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation. Agents affiliated with RE/MAX Escarpment collectively donated more than $86,000 to fund priority needs at the hospital. At RE/MAX Real Estate Centre, more than 150 agents made new commitments to become Miracle Agents, joining an already strong group of donors from this brokerage. Harv Sague, a RE/MAX Real Estate Centre realtor and Miracle Agent, says that combining his commitment to his work and his community is what keeps him so engaged: “I’m blessed with everyday opportunities to help those in my community simply by doing my job. Being a contributor to the Children’s Miracle Network fuels my passion — especially knowing that my donations are going to help children and youth who need them most.”

For almost 15 years, Julie Larochelle, a RE/MAX Avantages realtor and Miracle Agent, has been organizing an annual fundraising dinner in support of Quebec children’s hospitals affiliated with Opération Enfant Soleil (OES). For last year’s event, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers delivered a lobster dinner to participants’ homes — and raised more than $25,000 for children’s hospitals. The event benefits everyone involved. In addition to supporting kids’ health and energizing the local RE/MAX team, “Customers are very proud to be part of it,” Julie explains. “Also, calling on local partners for the meal brings economic health to the region.” Julie Lemieux, President and CEO of Opération Enfant Soleil, is inspired by RE/MAX agents’ creativity and commitment to continuing to raise funds amid pandemic restrictions. “You were able to adapt to the situation, overcome all the challenges and once again show how much you care about the children of Quebec. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

RE/MAX agents and offices across Saskatchewan continued to deliver extraordinary support to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation in 2021. Some teams made extra efforts over and above participating in The Miracle Home Program, such as the raffle and hot dog sale hosted by RE/MAX Swift Current. Two realtors who exemplify the passion we see across the province are Craig Adam and his wife and business partner Debra Duncan. Both have been RE/MAX Miracle Agents for many years — and Craig’s support for children’s health in Saskatchewan extends back to the 1990s, when he volunteered with the Children’s Hospital Telethon. Their motivation is always the same: “As realtors, Deb and I work with families every day and we learn of the stresses parents endure when they have a sick child,” says Craig. “Every time we sell a house through The Miracle Home Program, we are proud knowing it’s helping our local children’s hospital.”

On August 23, 2021, RE/MAX broker Jennifer Evelyn kicked off an ambitious fundraising initiative she called Paddle for Miracles. Aiming to raise $100,000 for Children’s Miracle Network, Jennifer invited friends, colleagues and family members to sponsor her as she propelled her stand-up paddleboard along the north shore of Lake Ontario and northeast through the Rideau Lake System. Based in Toronto, with RE/MAX Hallmark First Group Realty Inc., Jennifer launched her board from the city’s lake shore, a few blocks from SickKids. Her journey of approximately 300 nautical miles, which took about four weeks, ended near CHEO in Ottawa. “So proud to support CMN Hospitals from BC to Atlantic Canada!” an exuberant Jennifer declared after completing this demanding trip. “This journey was not easy but I drew strength from my family, friends and every single signature on my board ‘Max’ and messages of support. My WHY was always, ‘It’s for the kids,’ and knowing that every dollar can make a difference.” In the end, Jennifer far exceeded her goal, raising more than $125,000.

As the housing market in the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation region rebounded this year, the support RE/MAX agents were able to deliver for kids’ health reached new heights. With strong prices and a surging number of deals, the Miracle Home Program and other efforts drove more than $680,000 in donations to the Stollery. For the first time ever, 11 agents broke into five-figure giving, donating more than $10,000 each. The Stollery region’s #1 Miracle Agent, Craig Pilgrim, led the group with over $20,000 in giving. And longtime Stollery supporter Sara Kalke reached a lifetime giving milestone of over $100,000.

These results translate directly into benefits for children’s health. “Thanks to our partners at RE/MAX, we’re able to fund the best equipment, programs, research and training at the Stollery Children’s Hospital,” says Mike House, president and CEO of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We are grateful to RE/MAX offices and agents for making children’s health a priority and for helping kids and families when they need it most.”