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DS News interviewed ""REO4Kids"":http://www.reo4kids.com/ member Kelly Anne Porter to learn more about the children's charity initiative. Porter is an REO broker based in the North Texas area.
[IMAGE]REO4Kids members work with local and national communities by providing outreach programs, training, and fundraising activities. Members also donate $100 for every REO transaction closed. Since 2009, members have raised more than $600,000 nationwide.
*Q.* What charities do you all work with?
*A.* Our members have a passion for giving. Since passion comes from the heart, each member chooses the charities they support in their community. To date, Make-A-Wish(R), Boys and Girls Clubs, and St. Judes have been the largest recipients of our member's gifts but in 2011 more than 60 groups from Little League to Toys for Tots also benefited from our efforts.
*Q.* How many members do you all have nationwide?
*A.* Started in May 2009 with 11 members, grew to 18 members in 2010, and expanded to 22 members in 2011. Currently have 28 members in 16 states and more on the way.
*Q.* What area do you represent, and what is your role?
*A.* I represent a portion of the North Texas market. Besides sharing our success with children's charities, each member also has an obligation to share their business success with other members on the group's chat line. When I find a marketing idea that works, I share it with other members and they do the same. By helping other members earn more, we also enable them to contribute more to disadvantaged kids.
*Q.* What made you decide to get involved and for how long have you been involved?
*A.* I have known several of the brokers in REO4Kids for several years. I was encouraged several times to join and finally did in 2011 when I let go of the notion that charitable works should be kept anonymous upon seeing how well the mission of ""pay it forward"" became contagious.
*Q.* Why should other realtors join?
*A.* If you are a sharer, you need to be in this group. It is said that you have to give to receive. The networking with the other successful agents in REO4Kids will propel your business to levels unimaginable. In this tough real estate market, it is easy to become caught up in concerns about your business and your finances. When you help others who have far worse problems than your own, you feel fortunate, and when you feel fortunate, you become fortunate because all of your actions come from a belief in abundance rather than a fear of scarcity. Helping kids, our communities and each other is a win-win-win.
