A common purpose and desire to help others

The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2018, brings Royal LePage professionals together to benefit an important cause: women’s shelters and helping put an end to domestic violence.

Why is this a focus at Royal LePage? It’s because we know that a house is only a home if the people who live there feel safe, respected and loved. Sadly, that’s not the case for thousands of Canadian women and children who experience domestic violence. In fact, on any given night in Canada, 6,500 women and children sleep in a shelter because it’s not safe for them at home and as many as 300 are turned away because shelters are at full capacity.  

The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation provides an avenue for Royal LePage professionals to make a difference for these brave women and children. By organizing fundraising events, donating a portion of their commissions, volunteering at local shelters and taking part in our national fundraising campaigns, Royal LePage agents, brokers and employees have helped to raise more than $27 million since the foundation was founded in 1998.

Our culture of giving is evident at both the office level and at all Royal LePage conferences and regional meetings, where fundraising for the Shelter Foundation takes centre stage. At the 2018 Royal LePage National Sales Conference, those in attendance helped to raise a record-setting $150,000 in just five days. But it’s more than just raising funds that keeps Royal LePage Shelter Foundation supporters motivated. It’s the opportunity for our agents to form strong friendships and professional networks with other like-minded individuals across the country.

For example, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation invited Royal LePage professionals to take part in unique travel experiences to Machu Picchu in 2015 and Iceland in 2017, challenging them to raise significant funds for women’s shelters and violence prevention programs. But the challenge didn’t stop at fundraising. On both adventures, trekkers hiked across gruelling terrain and climbed and descended steep hills. In Peru, trekkers fought through altitude sickness, while in Iceland they endured the crossing of icy rivers with water up to their thighs. They camped in tents, did without daily showers, and disconnected from home by turning off their cell phones.

Throughout both treks, participants pushed themselves to the limits. They demonstrated courage, perseverance in the face of pain and exhaustion, and great kindness to one another. They carried each other’s gear, cheered for those who thought they couldn’t walk another step and helped one another through dehydration and injury. Cumulatively, these treks raised over $1.1 million in support of our shared cause. Currently, trekkers are preparing for their next adventure – a 100 km hike across the Sahara Desert in Morocco!

A strong culture built around shared values including giving back to the community is unique to Royal LePage and it’s why we are the only national real estate company with our own charitable foundation. With the company covering all the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation’s administrative costs, 100% of funds raised go to where they are needed most. Together, we’re helping women and children safely rebuild their lives after violence.