VAREP Atlanta Chapter Hosts Fundraiser to Benefit Healing 4 Heros

This is so near and dear to my heart. I started working with the national non-profit organization VAREP Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals about 2 and a half years ago to start an Atlanta chapter. I was blessed along the way to meet Chuck Walden with Silverton Mortgage who believed in the project as much as I did. To be honest, I was getting frustrated up till this point. Everyone loves talking about non-profit organizations, but when it comes down to it, very few people really want to put the work into volunteering. Especially trying to build one from the ground up.

Chuck was that special kind of someone, that and he had lived in and worked in the area longer than I had which gave him a much better network to reach out to. Still, it took almost another year to find enough people to form the first board of directors. The next blessing came by way of Florida. Keith Jackson had been the Vice President of a VAREP chapter in Florida and was expanding his real estate business to Atlanta. He reached out to us and expressed an interest in being a part of the new Atlanta chapter. Having Keith join us was a true godsend as he brought a wealth of experience with the VAREP organization. This helped us to overcome many of the hurdles that can and often do hinder new chapters in their first years. Over the next year we reached out to our respective networks (mostly Chucks) and we were able to get the first Board of Directors in place last November, 2018.

This past Thursday September 12th, 2019 our chapter hosted our first major fundraiser at Top Golf midtown from 6-9pm. The fundraiser was held to benefit Healing4Heroes in their amazing work training service/therapy dogs for veterans with PTSD and other disabilities. They brought out 4 of their trained dogs and they were really incredible to watch in action. The support from the local business community was overwhelming and the fundraiser was a huge success. Thanks to our sponsors O’Kelley and Sorohan, GAMLS, Silverton Mortgage and Mission Communications for helping to make the event possible. Also, thank you to the companies and organizations that donated items for our silent auction, Attic 2 Foundation Home Inspections, Lowes, Home Depot, Los Angeles Rams, NFL Hall of Fame, and many others. 

If you have not tried Top Golf I highly recommend it.  I have not played golf in over 30 years, well other than put put golf.  I really did enjoy myself though.  

Nakia Brooks came out to support us.  We wish him great success with his new company!

O'kelley and Sorohan was on hand as one of our corporate sponsors.  

Keith and Cindy working at the registration table.

Our silent auction was a huge success.

Healing4Heroes™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to assisting our military service members and veterans lead healthy, productive lives. Our objective is to connect wounded service members, as well as those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, with A.D.A. compliant service dogs.  Healing4Heroes™ has dual purposes in that it serves the community by helping military personnel and veterans as well as local animal shelters by rescuing suitable dogs.Our military personnel and veterans, after being wounded both physically and mentally, are able to move forward and live more productive lives with the assistance of service animals.

Top Golf Midtown did a fantastic job facilitating our fundraiser for us. Their staff was outstanding and we could not be happier. Thanks so much to everyone who helped us make it such a special night.

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