2023 GCAR Good Neighbor Award
As a non-profit organization, the Greater Capital Association of REALTORS® recognizes the significance of fostering community support through financial contributions and the valuable time and dedication of volunteers who actively work towards advancing the missions of numerous organizations across the Capital Region. To commend and highlight these outstanding organizations and the dedicated individuals who collaborate with them, GCAR introduced the Good Neighbor Award program in 2019. This local initiative aims to honor a GCAR member who stands out for their exceptional commitment to community service. In 2023, we proudly present the GCAR Good Neighbor Award to two remarkable individuals: Nicole Miller of HS Capital Realty and Diane Sluus of Keller Williams Capital District.
Nicole Miller – HS Capital Realty
Nicole Miller has demonstrated unwavering dedication as a volunteer for Operation at Ease, a local organization that supports veterans and first responders through service dogs and essential resources. Each August, the organization organizes a motorcycle ride event to shed light on the invisible struggles faced by our country’s heroes. Nicole plays a pivotal role in organizing this event, undertaking various responsibilities, including route planning, promotional efforts, and recruiting volunteers. This annual ride draws around 300 participants and requires meticulous planning a year in advance. Amidst various changes in volunteer support, Nicole has remained steadfast in her commitment.
In her role as a REALTOR®, Nicole’s reputation is distinguished by her ability to assist clients in finding their dream homes and her exceptional willingness to go the extra mile. A notable example of her outstanding commitment is when she helped a veteran associated with Operation at Ease find a suitable home. Throughout the complex home-buying process, Nicole provided unwavering support and guidance, acting as a reassuring presence as they navigated through numerous challenges. When it was time for the home inspections, Nicole rallied her community and secured generous donations from a local hardware store. She even led a team in scraping old paint from the property and repainting it to meet the standards required for the VA loan. Remarkably, this entire process was completed without the involvement of the nervous and overwhelmed homebuyer.
Nicole consistently goes above and beyond, offering her assistance proactively, often before it is even requested. Her dedication to her community and her exceptional commitment to Operation at Ease make her a deserving recipient of the 2023 GCAR Good Neighbor Award.
Diane Sluus – Keller Williams Capital District
Diane Sluus is dedicated to serving others, and making our community and communities across the globe a better place to live and thrive is genuinely commendable. Her commitment to giving back inspires us all, reminding us of the profound impact one person can have when driven by a genuine desire to uplift those around them.
Diane not only volunteers with non-profits here in our area, including the Capital City Mission in Albany and “Sleep in Heavenly Peace,” an organization that builds beds for children who do not own one, but also volunteers in areas far away to help residents in impoverished regions such as Kenya. She has worked with community members on a school building project and worked in the Amazon in Ecuador, working with community members on digging trenches for a clean water project with the “WE” Charity. She volunteered in Uganda with Compassion International, an organization that works to release children from poverty. Diane gives monthly financial aid and exchanges letters with two children from Uganda. Last year, she helped dig trenches in the hillsides of Nepal with “WTW” (Wine to Water), a global non-profit preserving life and dignity through the power of clean water. WTW disaster response teams are always ready to respond in the USA and worldwide when the need arises.
Diane’s unwavering dedication and selfless contributions have truly made a difference.