Embracing meaning: Agents who give back
In today’s busy world, affluent consumers are searching for meaning that permeates into every facet of their lives. Luxury Portfolio members know that and are giving back in their communities and to the people around them.
One of the most important things we’ve discovered in our research in our most recent report, The Affluent Homebuyer: A Quest for Meaning, is that clients are interested in philanthropy. The data shows that today’s affluent consumer is more loyal to brands that make them feel a connection and help them give back.
To showcase members who have embraced this philosophy, Luxury Portfolio has an ongoing "Agents Who Give Back" feature on our blog. At the Luxury Portfolio Summit this year, we hosted a panel to discuss how agents are forging deeper connections in their professional relationships by embracing meaning in their own lives. The panel included Luxury Portfolio members, Arizona Best Real Estate, WK Real Estate and Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate.
Stephanie Crispinelli Humanitarian Fund
Liz Nunan, Vice President, Global Business Development at Houlihan Lawrence, shared the story of agent Lin Crispinelli who started the Stephanie Crispinelli Humanitarian Fund to continue the work of her daughter, Stephanie, who died in the Haiti earthquake of 2010. Stephanie was there on a humanitarian mission.
After the tragedy, Lin’s clients, family, and friends rallied around her and some have gone on missions with Lin. In the last seven years, they’ve built five schools, provided scholarships, and provide funding for college students who want to go on humanitarian missions. “The communities have really stepped up and embraced the family. After seven years people are still stepping up and are willing to help,” added Liz, sharing that an ice cream shop where Stephanie worked as a teenager still hosts an annual day in her honor in which funds raised go back to the fund.
Love Up Foundation
Kirsten Johnson of Arizona Best Real Estate, is the president of the Love Up Foundation that supports children in Arizona who are in the foster care system. The foundation was begun with JohnJay and Rich, radio personalities in Arizona.
Kirsten and volunteers help create “love up” moments like taking them to a baseball game, throwing them a Christmas party, taking them bowling or giving them experiences they would not have otherwise. One of Kirsten’s projects is the Christmas Wish. She gave 300 children a Christmas party and personally shopped for all the children. “It changed who I was, seeing the smiles on these kids faces,” said Kirsten. “When we connect on a human level and understand each other’s pain and understand each other’s joy, we can move forward together.”
Community Outreach
Dan Kingdom, President of WK Real Estate, told the story of Adam Stevenson who works with seven different community organizations including groups that work with the elderly and with children.
Adam is an Air Force veteran and every November he gives a credit to his veteran clients of $1,111 on Veteran’s Day. “Adam’s pretty amazing,” said Dan. “He connect with different organizations in an authentic and genuine way.”
Each panelist stressed the ways that these efforts led to a stronger and more substantive bond with their clients. Luxury Portfolio agents and brokers are using the power of their own marketing skills and applying it to giving back with some phenomenal results, raising visibility for worthy causes.