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By Marla Martin<\/div><\/div>\n

NAR\u2019s awards highlight Realtors across the U.S. who have dedicated their time, money and passion to helping others \u2013 and one 2021 finalist hails from Fla.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

WASHINGTON \u2013<\/span><\/span> The National Association of Realtors<\/span>\u00ae<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0(NAR) honored 10 Realtors<\/span>\u00ae<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0as finalists for its 2021 Good Neighbor Awards, including one Realtor from Clearwater, Fla.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now in its 22nd year, the Good Neighbor Awards recognize Realtors who have made significant, tangible volunteer contributions in their communities to improve the lives of their neighbors in need.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Christina Sauger with Rutenberg Realty Inc. in Clearwater, Fla., is one of the 10 finalists. Sauger founded The Harbor Dish, a nonprofit organization that provides healthy meals and companionship to anyone regardless of their ability to pay. The mobile program includes hosting large-scale community dinners on a pay-what-you-can model, and delivers hot meals to seniors, foster children, domestic violence survivors and others in need.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

NAR President Charlie Oppler says he\u2019s proud to honor this year\u2019s Good Neighbor Award finalists \u201cfor continuing the Realtor tradition of giving back and making a difference. Despite the many challenges navigating COVID-19 restrictions and running a nonprofit during the pandemic, these Realtors were there to help their communities at a time their contributions were needed most.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The public can vote for their favorite of the 10 Good Neighbor finalists, which will help the top three finalists to be recognized as Web Choice Favorites. The Web Choice Favorites will take home an additional donation of $2,500, $1,250 and $1,250, respectively. <\/span><\/span>Cast your vote<\/span><\/a> now through Oct. 1, 2021, for Florida\u2019s finalist, Christina Sauger.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Both the winners, as determined by judges, and the Web Choice Favorites will be announced on October 6. The five winners will receive a $10,000 grant and national media exposure for their charity, including a feature in the fall issue of Realtor Magazine. The winners will be honored during the upcoming 2021 Realtor Conference & Expo in San Diego, Calif. Five honorable mention winners will receive $2,500 grants:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to Sauger, the finalists are: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dawn M. Adams, The Palmetto Real Estate Company, Aiken, S.C.
\n\tSince 2011, Adams has been helping to rescue and rehabilitate victims of human trafficking both in the U.S. and internationally. As a board member with Abolish Slavery Coalition (AbolishSlavery.org), Adams organizes multi-agency task forces that help locate those who were kidnapped, while helping rescued victims begin the process of restoring normalcy in their lives.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Bob Bell, Mile Hi Property, Denver, Colo.
  \n\tEvery Friday, Bell and hundreds of volunteers meet to pack and deliver weekend meals for 10,000 at-risk children scattered across 72 Denver-area schools. By eliminating overhead and relying on his dedicated volunteers, Bell has turned Food for Thought into a powerhouse, with 497,205 backpacks of food delivered to date, the equivalent of almost 4 million meals.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
  - Sharon Chambers-Gordon, Windermere Professional Partners, Tacoma, Wash.
    \n\tFounder of Raising Girls, a nonprofit that helps low-income young women boost their confidence and self-esteem, Chambers-Gordon and her volunteer team donate menstrual hygiene products to tweens and teens who might otherwise skip school and sports because of embarrassment or financial constraints.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    - Chris Cockerham, F.C. Tucker\/Bloomington Realtor, Bloomington, Ind.
      \n\tCockerham helps combat homelessness by taking advantage of his expertise and contacts in the real estate industry. He has spent more than a year helping New Hope for Families find a new permanent location, which doubled its shelter capacity and raised $1.2 million, in large part from local Realtors.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n