NEFAR Charitable Foundation
Real Estate Professionals Making a Real Difference
Members of the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® are known for community service, and NEFAR’s Charitable Foundation is often their charity of choice to be used as a vehicle to assist other local nonprofits within the region.
Established in 1987, the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® Charitable Foundation first served as the charitable arm for the Jacksonville Board of REALTORS®.
The foundation expanded its reach in 1995 when the Jacksonville Association of REALTORS merged with three other associations — the Jacksonville Beaches Board of REALTORS®, Inc.; the Ponte Vedra Beach Association of REALTORS®, Inc.; and the Clay County Board of REALTORS®, Inc. – to become the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® (NEFAR).
When the Putnam County Board of REALTORS, Inc., merged with NEFAR in 1999, the association’s charitable activities extended further south and now include all of Duval, Clay, and Putnam Counties as well as areas of St. John’s County that were formerly represented by the Ponte Vedra Association of REALTORS®.
Through the auspices of the NEFAR Charitable Foundation, NEFAR REALTORS® provide collective and individual good works throughout the region by raising funds and doing volunteer work for local nonprofits and fellow REALTORS® in times of need.
Vision:
To be the charity of choice for real estate professionals in Northeast Florida
Mission:
Members of the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® are known for community service, and NEFAR’s Charitable Foundation is often their charity of choice to be used as a vehicle to assist other local nonprofits within the region.
The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors® (NEFAR) Charitable Foundation Inc. is a 501C3 corporation (Charitable) which was established to raise funds and assets to assist members of the public and member Realtors® in times of need as approved by the Board of Trustees. All donations to NEFAR Charitable are voluntary and tax deductible.
A Legacy of Empowering Communities
Throughout the years, the NEFAR Charitable Foundation has given back to the community through many benevolent events, initiatives and donations.
Hunger Fight Pack-a-Thon
For the past five years, NEFAR Charitable Foundation has donated between $25,000 and $33,000 to partner with Hunger Fight, a nonprofit that provides meals and books for disadvantaged children and their families. Each year, NEFAR organized a pack-a-thon event where up to 300 REALTORS packed nutritious meals for hungry families in the region.
NAR REALTOR Relief Fund
Since its inception, the Charitable Foundation has been an ardent supporter of NAR’s REALTOR Relief Fund. It donated $100,000 to mark the fund’s 20th anniversary in 2021. In its 20 years of existence, more than $38 million has helped more than 19,000 families.
MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation
NEFAR member MaliVai Washington was one of five NAR Good Neighbor Award winners in 2022, and the Foundation donated $10,000 to the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation (MWYF). MWYF is a nonprofit that helps disadvantaged youth through after-school mentoring and tennis instruction in one of Jacksonville’s deadliest neighborhoods. The Foundation also donated $15,000 to MWYF in 2023.
Make a Difference Day
Florida Realtors’ Disaster Relief Fund
The Foundation donated $100,000 to the Disaster Relief Fund in 2023. The donation assisted REALTORS® whose lives were devastated by Hurricane Ian. The Disaster Relief Fund was formed in August 1992, and assists members of the Florida REALTOR® community who have experienced damage to their primary residences or offices due to natural disasters.
UNF & The NEFAR Oyster Bar
Since 2021, NEFAR has hosted a community-wide St. Johns River clean-up event from Palatka to Mayport. In 2023, more than 300 volunteers collected 3,300-pounds of trash from the river’s waters. Leftover money – $17,568 – from event sponsorships was donated through the Foundation to the University of North Florida to create a “NEFAR Oyster Bar,” in the Intercoastal Waterway.
Annual NEFAR Charitable Foundation Bass Tournament
For 16 consecutive years ending in 2019, NEFAR raised funds for Haven Hospice Roberts Care Center in Palatka through a catch-and-release Charity Bass Fishing Tournament. The NEFAR Charitable Foundation donated 100% of all proceeds raised from the tournament to the Care Center, with approximately $354,657 having been donated over 15 years.
Giving to Local Nonprofits
The Foundation supports several regional nonprofits each year. In 2023, the Foundation donated $15,000 apiece to Best Buddies, K9’s for Warriors, Morning Star School, Lutheran Social Services, and the Jewish Community Alliance. It also donated $10,000 to the Coastal Conservation, a nonprofit which champions the St. Johns River and its aquatic environment.
Daniel Renovation Day
In 2014, 100 NEFAR members renovated Daniel’s Independent Living Village in Jacksonville. The Foundation raised $25,000 toward the project. Over 900+ man hours of labor were utilized the day of the event. The facility provides teens a safe place in the Daniel Project Prepare Program. The youths receive a place to stay and life-skills education to become independent adults.
REALTOR Ramp-It-Up
NEFAR provides labor and support to the community by building wheelchair ramps in Northeast Florida. NEFAR members and the Foundation, in conjunction with the St Johns’ Housing Partnership, provide the tools, labor and support to build the ramps. More than 250 wheelchair ramps throughout Northeast Florida have been built since 2004.
Board of Trustees
William Glenn East
NEFAR CEO and Trustee
Diana Galavis
Trustee
Cole Slate
Trustee
