Pennsylvania Realtors® Ring for the Salvation Army

By Kim Shindle
December 9, 2015
8 min.

Realtors® teamed up with the Salvation Army last week to ring the bell for the Red Kettle campaign. Dubbed Realtor® Ring Day, the campaign had 17 local Realtor® associations across Pennsylvania volunteering on Dec. 4 to assist the Salvation Army in raising funds for local communities during the holiday season.

Realtor® Ring Day debuted in 2010 with a few hundred Minnesota and North Dakota Realtors® ringing bells on a single day. The event has grown each year as Realtors® from more states make this a national Christmas tradition.

Each local Salvation Army office provides programs and services unique to the needs of their communities. Offices operate Red Kettle campaigns and money raised stays in each community to support their local efforts.

“Thank you for all that the members of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® have done to raise funds and awareness for the work of The Salvation Army, which will provide Christmas Toys, rent and energy assistance, food, music education, clothing and so much more to individuals, children and families in need,” said Jennifer Gardener, divisional community relations and development director, The Salvation Army, Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Division.

Realtor® Fran Pletcher, a past president of the Cambria-Somerset Association, said, “In my younger years when I fell on hard times, I used the services for my own family and it was a great help. I personally want to give back to such a valuable program. And for Realtors®, it’s a great opportunity to reach out and help those in our communities. I know many of the Realtors® in our association not only help with real estate needs but other needs throughout the community.”

The Central Susquehanna Valley Board of Realtors® coordinated 10 real estate offices manning kettles in eight locations across five counties. Realtor® and CSVB board member Angela Young said, “We’ve had a great response for our first year participating. Offices really stepped up to the challenge to help this worthy charity.”

Realtor® Conrad Vanino, a past president of the Reading-Berks Association of Realtors®, said, “I’m a member of several organizations that serve the community. I love my community and I’m fortunate to be a healthy person, so I try to give back as much as possible. I’m proud to help in a small way with the Salvation Army, they’re one of the organizations that’s there to help when people need it.”

Realtors® in Pittsburgh also participated in Project Bundle Up in conjunction with the Salvation Army.

Associations participating in Realtor® Ring Day included: