It may be cliché to point out that real estate is a “people” business, but there’s a solid foundation of truth to the saying. Many of our agents are either loyal contributors or direct volunteers to numerous local charities and non-profit organizations focused on giving back to the LA community. For these agents, it’s not holiday spirit – it’s a way of life that spans the entire year. Rather than interview hundreds of agents about their charities of choice, we’re highlighting three local seasonal charities that are worth your consideration if you’re in a generous mood.
Hope Through Housing – Providing Relief to Needy Teens and Seniors
The Hope through Housing Foundation focuses its efforts on the extremities of the population, using its collected funds to support low-income teens and seniors in the Greater Los Angeles area. That being said, they’re still accepting toys for children ages eight through 13 as part of their ongoing annual Holiday Drive. More relevant to their focus, the Hope through Housing Foundation collects gift cards and clothing for teens, and gift cards, toiletries, and various home essentials for seniors. If you’re short on time but have plenty of other resources, certain local charities like this one suggest the gift card option as a particularly convenient way of helping your neighbors in need.
BOMA – Turning Local Businesses Into Charitable Drop Locations
The Greater Los Angeles Area chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) has already started setting out collection bins for their annual city-wide toy, food, and clothing drive. You can find these bins in over 150 businesses across the area. This traditional charity drive employs BOMA’s volunteers to sort through the donations for efficient distribution to families in need. So, keep your eyes peeled for BOMA donation boxes or head over to the Greater LA BOMA page for more details.
LA County District Attorney – Collecting for Crime Victims
If you or a loved one doesn’t work in law enforcement, you may be unfamiliar with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Holiday Giving Drive, but it is a local tradition. Unlike the other two local charities mentioned, this one focuses exclusively on offering support to victims of local crime. Donations are collected in the Victim Assistance Fund, which is then distributed to families coping with the trauma that often follows in a crime’s wake. If you’d like to contribute to the Victim Assistance Fund, you can start by visiting the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s page.
Choose the Local Charities Closest to Your Heart
Each of these charitable organizations offers a fantastic outlet for you to exercise your spirit of giving. But if you don’t feel a personal connection to these three local charities, we suggest that you reach out to your local real estate agent for guidance. As fixtures of their community, they have a firm understanding of local charitable organizations that may be closer to your personal interests. Many of them volunteer their time to charitable organizations, so expect plenty of helpful information on how to make sure your contributions are doing the most good.
With a brand that says as much as JohnHart’s, Senior Copywriter Seth Styles never finds himself at a loss for words. Responsible for maintaining the voice of the company, he spends each day drafting marketing materials, blogs, bios, and agent resources that speak from the company’s collective mind and Hart… errr, heart.
Having spent over a decade in creative roles across a variety of industries, Seth brings with him vast experience in SEO practices, digital marketing, and all manner of professional writing with particular strength in blogging, content creation, and brand building. Gratitude, passion, and sincerity remain core tenets of his unwavering work ethic. The landscape of the industry changes daily, paralleling JohnHart’s efforts to {re}define real estate, but Seth works to maintain the company’s consistent message while offering both agents and clients a new echelon of service.
When not preserving the JohnHart essence in stirring copy, Seth puts his efforts into writing and illustrating an ongoing series entitled The Death of Romance. In addition, he adores spending quality time with his girlfriend and Romeo (his long-haired chihuahua mix), watching ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies, and reading (with a particular penchant for Victorian horror novels and authors Yukio Mishima and Bret Easton Ellis). He also occasionally records music as the vocalist and songwriter for his glam rock band, Peppermint Pumpkin.
