2020 Good Neighbor Award
As a non-profit, the Greater Capital Association of REALTORS® understands the importance of garnering community support through monetary means and volunteers who contribute their time and effort towards the goals of the many organizations throughout the Capital Region. To recognize these organizations and the individuals who work for and with them, GCAR instituted a Good Neighbor Award program in 2019 and Ginny O’Brien of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties and St. Paul’s Center (homeless shelter for women and children) in Rensselaer was the recipient of the 2019 award.
This year GCAR members were provided criteria and information for the nomination of community organizations with whom they or people they know work with. Nominees were to have contributed volunteer hours to a program that improves the livability of a community and were reviewed on a level of personal contribution, the impact of personal contribution, the broadness of impact, and the project’s suitability as a role model for other REALTORS®.
This year the committee had two individuals who they felt were deserving of recognition.
Meet the first winner, Robert A. Purtell of Century 21 Purtell Realty in Amsterdam
Over the many years that Bob has been affiliated with The Amen Place Soup Kitchen, he has donated endless hours and personal investment in helping the organization grow and succeed. Bob has facilitated corporate donations through various companies with some of those donations coming in the form of weekly food deliveries from Bimbo Bakery, labor donations, equipment donations, and the list goes on. He’s given his time freely without expectation, all for the betterment of people.
Meet our second winner, Julie Sasso of McSharry Associates Realty in Delmar
In 2017, Julie and a small group of community residents approached Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC) with the idea of bringing art to the Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail. They hoped their vision of public works of art, placed along the Rail Trail, would enrich the lives of trail users.
With her leadership, the committee has successfully raised funds, through private donations and grants to install five murals along the trail, host two public chalk art events, and most recently install a multi-piece exhibit at the trailhead in Voorheesville.
