Local Associations Honored at Virtual RPAC Awards Ceremony

By Kelly Leighton
January 26, 2021
3 min.

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Yesterday, PAR members celebrated total investments in the Pennsylvania Realtors® Political Action Committee reaching $791,584 in 2020.

About 37% of PAR members invested in 2020, a year in which a global pandemic upended our lives and real estate business. Additionally, RPAC welcomed 24 members to the President’s Circle, six to the Platinum ‘R,’ 23 to the Golden ‘R,’ nine to the Crystal ‘R’ and 119 to the Sterling ‘R,” with 157 total major investments.

Despite the challenges of 2020, it was RPAC’s third highest ever fundraising total and second highest number of major investors.

“I feel it’s very important for Realtors® to invest in RPAC because it represents the interest of Realtors®,” said Vicki Venezia, the 2020 RPAC Fundraising Committee chair. “We need RPAC and our association to continue advocating to move real estate forward by supporting the legislators who are helping our business and private property rights.”

Local associations were honored yesterday at a virtual awards ceremony.

“Despite the challenging circumstances of 2020, Realtors® still prioritized the importance of investing in RPAC, knowing that their investments benefited legislators who continue to advocate for private property rights,” said 2020 PAR President Bill Festa.

For the highest per capita RPAC investments, in the extra large category, Suburban West Realtors® Association was first with 194.47% of their goal, followed by the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors® with 157.83% and in third, the Montgomery County Association with 156.56%. In the large category, the Reading-Berks Association took home top honors with 243.34% of their goal, while the Pocono Mountains Association took second with 181.12%, followed by the Realtors® of York & Adams Counties with 166.59%. In the medium category, the Centre County Association was first with 376.93%, followed by the Central Susquehanna Valley Board with 264.47% and then the Butler County Association with 215.57%. Finally, in the small category, the North Central Penn Board came in first with 243.64%, while the McKean County Association was second with 204.17% and the Bradford Sullivan Association was third with 193.33%.

In the highest RPAC membership participation category for extra large associations, the Bucks County Association took home first place with 47.49% of members investing, followed by the Suburban West Realtors® Association with 40% and the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors® with 34.04%. In the large association category, the Pocono Mountains Association nabbed top honors with 33.37% member participation, followed by the Reading-Berks Association with 32.33% and the Realtors® of York & Adams Counties with 26.94%. In the medium association category, the Pike/Wayne Association was first for member participation percentages, coming in with 76.41% participation, followed by the Lebanon County Association with 66.06% and the Greater Allegheny-Kiski Area Board with 59.91%. For the small association category, the Elk-Cameron County Board was first with 103.57% member participation, followed by the Clearfield-Jefferson Association with 88.62% and the North Central Penn Board with 87.88%.

Finally, RPAC honored the most improved association. For most improved member RPAC participation, in extra large boards, Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors® took home first place. In large associations, the Lancaster County Association was first, while Lebanon County Association was the first medium board and the Clearfield-Jefferson Association won for small associations. For the most improved per capita fundraising, the Greater Harrisburg Association was first for large associations, while the Lebanon County Association was first for medium boards and the McKean County Association was first for small associations.

Eighteen local associations achieved at least 50% participation in RPAC in 2020.