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Staff Reporter
A Western Australia institute has launched a new philanthropic program to help agents and property managers provide money and support for charitable causes.
The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) launched its Community REInvest program last week to provide a greater avenue for its members to give back to community causes.
“Most real estate agencies already have strong charity connections in their local communities, whether for medical research, volunteer bushfire brigades, local community groups or animal rescue centres,” said REIWA chief executive Neville Pozzi.
“However, REIWA itself did not have a philanthropic cause to which it could bring some focus and further establish its corporate responsibilities and social credentials in the wider community.
"I’m delighted therefore that we now have an overarching program befitting of our place in the wider community and of the business role we play in the state economy."
While the program’s focus and direction will be guided by the council, the institute will start by partnering with the Salvation Army to help people dealing with homelessness.
Members who participate in the program will make a monthly contribution, and REIWA hopes to contribute at least $250,000 in its first year.
“Our members are really looking forward to the Community REInvest program becoming operational and being able to generously give something back to the community either financially or through volunteering,” Mr Pozzi said.
The Salvation Army has welcomed its partnership with REIWA and said the initiative was a great idea that would help the organisation provide accommodation services to vulnerable people in the community.
The Salvation Army’s divisional communications and fundraising secretary, Warren Palmer, said “Despite WA being a very prosperous state, some people fall through the cracks and need our help. The assistance that REIWA agents can give us in this regard is greatly appreciated and the money will be spent in practical ways where it is most needed.”
The first project REIWA will be supporting the Salvation Army with will be ‘The Beacon’ - a new 102-bed, multistorey homeless men’s shelter in east Perth to be officially opened in February 2014.
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