President's message: NHCC is growing and expanding

Years ago in the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina, a few commercial realtors in New Hampshire bonded over charity work they were doing independently. These real estate professionals were taking time away from their jobs, not to vacation, but to give back and help reconstruct what once was in Gulf. In their sharing of experience the idea was hatched to create a charity within the New Hampshire Commercial Investment Board of Realtors, to help give back to those who have been affected by natural disaster. NH CIBOR Cares was born. Since that time, the charity has grown and expanded their leadership team. With much investment of time and effort, the group is now a full fledged 501C3, with separate governance from NH CIBOR. In addition, their gifting has expanded beyond the natural disaster work to other projects that are dear to CIBOR Members hearts as well as some real estate related work. The group has given tremendously and deserves recognition for some of the great work they have done. Since May of last year NH CIBOR Cares has donated close to $6,000 to various charities and they continue to pledge more. $1500 dollars was given to The New Hampshire Red Cross for the damage that was caused by Hurricane Irene and the snow storm last Halloween that left many without power for days. CIBOR Cares pledged matching funds to CIBOR Member Doug Martin for his bike race for Alzheimer's. Last year, when NHCC member Judy Niles-Simmons received the community service award, a donation of $500 to the Toys for Tots program was made. The group continues to seek out organizations that need monetary help as well as the efforts that only a group of Type A real estate professionals can bring. NHCC has also sponsored a blood drive to help all of those, when they may need it the most. Funding of all of these great donations could not be done without the help of their board. Chair Jim DeSefano pioneered the broker open house donation. On almost all of the open houses conducted by Grubb and Ellis Northern New England, there is a generous contribution from his landlord to the charity based on the broker turn out. We certainly all enjoy couple of drinks with our open houses, but giving back is even better. Each board member also tirelessly collects raffles and other donations for income to the charity. Just this past year Red Sox tickets were raffled away in order to help raise money for some of the great things you have seen above. But the work does not stop here. If you have ideas of groups that need help, call us. If you have charities that are in need of amassing a group of people, call us. If you have an item that can be raffled, call us. If you want to make a deductible donation, call us. We are here because NH CIBOR Cares. Chris Norwood, CCIM, is the 2012 president of the NH CIBOR chapter and is a director of NAI Norwood Group, Bedford, N.H.