Recognized for his community service and leadership, Darryl Reuter of Royal LePage Kelowna in Kelowna, British Columbia, is the deserving 2014 recipient of the REALTORS Care® Award for the Central Okanagan Zone of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB).
Many REALTORS® give of their time, money and expertise, and this is the eighth year OMREB has recognized the exemplary volunteer efforts of its member REALTORS® in the Central Okanagan. The announcement was made at the Central Zone’s annual holiday luncheon on Friday, December 5, 2014.
“Darryl is a very worthy recipient of this award,” notes Kelowna REALTOR® Anita Clegg of the OMREB’s Central Zone Executive. “He is being recognized by his peers and acknowledged by residents of the community for his energetic and ongoing support for worthwhile causes in the Kelowna area.”
Darryl exemplifies those REALTORS® who have made long-term contributions to the communities in which they live and make a living, and are committed to being actively involved in making a difference.
A recent finalist for the City of Kelowna’s Fred Macklin Memorial Award for Man of the Year, Darryl has a long history of giving back. He selflessly and tirelessly supports fundraising events for individual benefits, community initiatives and national causes but is also known for random acts of kindness to put a smile on someone’s face or to help out in a small way.
Darryl founded Rainmaker Charity and has organized various fund raisers like the Homes for Hounds golf tournament, and the Longhaul Adventure Race to raise funds for addiction issues. He recently formed Impact Kelowna and the group’s Food Fight has raised 2,000 pounds of food for the food bank. They have organized three major fundraisers to aid in the treatment of a young paraplegic and to assist a paralyzed athlete – raising more than $130,000. Darryl also initiated an online auction to raise funds for a local resident suffering from ALS as well as participating in a ride for ALS and raising $3,000 on his own.
A strong supporter and partner of the Okanagan Young Professionals (OYP) Collective, Darryl helped plan the Motionball Marathon fundraising day of sport for Special Olympics Canada, which raised $60,000 locally. He has also organized a Santa Pub Crawl for the last two years and used the funds to sponsor three local families at Christmas.
The need for volunteers and engaged community citizenship has never been greater and our member REALTORS® continue to rise to the challenge. Three very worthy 2014 nominees are also recognized for their outstanding community involvement and contributions to their Central Okanagan communities: Jane Hoffman of Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty (Kelowna), Brent Pay of Century 21 Assurance Realty (Kelowna), and Jerry Redman of RE/MAX Kelowna.
“Congratulations to the REALTORS Care® recipients and all 2014 nominees for being good public citizens, and caring about their local and global communities,” says OMREB President and working REALTOR® Darcy Griffiths. “It is amazing to see the diverse ways our Members give back, the leadership they take, and the good example they set for others. Their community spirit remains undeterred.”
As the Okanagan moves towards further economic recovery and market stability, local REALTORS® look forward to continued involvement in their communities during 2015.
The Central Zone of OMREB covers an area from Peachland to Lake Country and east along Highway 33 to Westbridge (including the Christian Valley). The Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB) is comprised of 1,030 member REALTORS® and 94 real estate offices in the Southern Interior of BC.
