Three New Jersey Realtors Recognized for Outstanding Community Service Receive Good Neighbor Awards and Donations to their Charity of Choice

Atlantic City, N.J. – December 22, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — New Jersey Realtors presented three outstanding members with Good Neighbor Awards during a ceremony last week at the Realtors Triple Play Convention & Trade Expo. The awards recognize individuals who have made extraordinary commitments to community service programs throughout the state.

“Real estate is an inherently busy career. For these three members to dedicate as much time and effort as they have to philanthropic ventures they are passionate about, while still maintaining active businesses, is impressive on so many levels,” said 2014 NJ Realtors President Cindy Marsh-Tichy.

“Realtors are integral to the communities they work in, volunteering and giving back in so many different ways. These three Realtors are perfect models of the Realtor spirit and we are so glad to have them represent our Realtor family.”

FIRST PLACE

Ida M. Petkus, ABR

Award: $2,500 for Domestic Violence Advocacy Center in Medford

Petkus, a member of the Burlington Camden County Board of Realtors is a salesperson with Long & Foster in Moorestown. She co-founded the center in 2009, with Pat Seidman and Kathy Hogan, Esq., to focus on moving victims from living in isolation in abuse to living violence free by providing confidential services and support. Since then, the center has helped over 153 male and female victims of abuse. Through the center she has provided legal advocacy, support groups, educational workshops, hotline support, and facilitating an online chat room to help those affected by domestic violence cope. Her real estate career has helped her promote the center by employing some of the same marketing techniques she would for clients, such as event planning, coordination of services, non-competitive collaboration and open houses.

Petkus was named as one of the 2013 Outstanding Women by New Jersey Senate and General Assembly, Burlington County Chosen Board of Freeholders and Advisory Board on Women. She was also invited as guest participant to the 2014 Domestic Violence Summit in Los Angeles, CA, facilitated by Dr. Phil, Robin McGraw and the Verizon Foundation. The center was also honored by the American Humane Society as a Pet Friendly Agency Sheltering Victims and Pets for its dedication to provide safe shelter for victims and pets. Learn more at dvacenter.org or visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/dvacenter.

SECOND PLACE

Andrew Fasy

Award: $1,500 for the OC NJ C.A.R.E. in Ocean City

As an agent with Long & Foster in Sea Isle City and an Ocean City Board of Realtors member, Fasy is the co-founder of OC NJ C.A.R.E., an organization created to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Immediately after the storm, he organized a group of over 400 volunteers, setting up a relief center, expanding the food pantry and establishing a clothing distribution system.

For the past two years the organization has continued to accept donations and fund and facilitate programs for local residents in need. Both businesses and residents were helped by the efforts of the organization, helping them get back on their feet after a devastating storm. In 2013, Fasy was honored as one of the Ocean City Citizens of the Year by the local Chamber of Commerce. More recently, OC NJ C.A.R.E. has expanded their reach internationally to give support for those affected Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Learn more at ocnjcares.org.

THIRD PLACE

Cindy Czaskos

Award: $1,000 for the Anderson House in Whitehouse Station

Czaskos, a Hunterdon/Somerset Association of Realtors member and agent at Weichert in Clinton, has been involved with the Anderson House for the past five years. Anderson House, founded in 1995, is a residential program for women recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. She was elected to the executive committee four years ago and has had a pivotal role ever since. She served as first vice president from 2011-2013 and was elected president of the board of trustees in 2013. Anderson House has helped more than 300 women over the last 20 years to build new productive lives and reconnect with family and loved ones. The organization recently merged with Turning Point, another organization in dedicated to the wellbeing of women with addiction and mental health issues, with the help of Czaskos’ leadership. She will continue on as the president of the advisory board of Anderson House and is a new member of the executive board on the Board of Trustees of Turning Point. Learn more at andersonhouse.org.

Founded in 1917, New Jersey Realtors, the voice of real estate for New Jersey, is a non-profit organization serving the professional needs of approximately 43,000 Realtor and Realtor-Associate members engaged in all facets of the real estate business. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, NJ Realtors is dedicated to enhancing the ability of its members to conduct their business successfully while maintaining the preservation of private property rights. Realtor is a registered collective membership mark, which may be used only by real estate professionals who subscribe to the Realtor organization’s strict Code of Ethics and are members of the national, state and local Realtor organizations. For more information, visit njrealtor.com.

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Allison Rosen
Director of Communications
New Jersey REALTORS®
295 Pierson Avenue | Edison, NJ 08837
T: 732-494-4730 | F: 732.404.8127
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