Category: Charities

Charity Tournament to End Child Hunger

JS Realty Gives Back Charity Tournament on May 16, 2017 to Benefit Generosity Feeds

Leesburg, VA – The JS Realty Team @ Samson Properties will host its Inaugural fundraising Tournament on Tuesday, May 16. The goal of the tournament is to raise money to host a meal packing event through the Generosity Feeds charity.

Generosity Feeds is a local & national catalyst for mobilizing communities to help feed hungry, school aged children. Each meal made and packaged through Generosity Feeds costs $1. The JS Realty Team hopes to make and package up to 20,000 meals. A meal packing event has been scheduled for June 3 at Creighton’s Corner Elementary in Brambleton.

The Inaugural Tournament will be held at the Lansdowne Resort & Spa, located in Leesburg, Virginia. It will include an 18-hole scramble and an Artisan’s Corner with pottery painting and candle making. Breakfast and registration begin at 8AM, with a shotgun start at 9AM. The Artisan’s Corner will open at 9AM as well. Following the tournament is an awards banquet with gourmet lunch and silent auction.

Giving Back

Organized by the JS Realty Team @ Samson Properties, this Tournament is part of an annual charity campaign. The campaign aims to raise funds to promote and support local charity organizations that give back to the community.

“This Inaugural Tournament is specifically dedicated to raising funds for Generosity Feeds. More than 12,000 children in our immediate community struggle with hunger. We really want to be part of the solution to end that struggle,” JS Realty Team Co-Owner, Sarah Taylor, said. “With the support of everyone who attends the Tournament, we are hoping to raise sufficient funds to host a meal packing event on June 3.  We will make and package up to 20,000 meals for hungry children. We really want to make an impact and help these kids who may not have access to meals outside of the school day.”

Tournament Sponsors

Top Sponsors for the tournament include: Samson Properties, First Heritage Mortgage, Evergreen Janitorial Services, and Highcrest Contracting. Battlefield Ford in Manassas is providing a brand new truck for the Hole-in-One winner. Additional sponsors include ExecuClean Auto Spa, Jeff Miller Consulting Alliance, Pie-tanza, PestNow, and Delta Painting.

About the JS Realty Team

The JS Realty Team has worked with 4 local charity organizations since 2015. It’s an effort to give back to the community through time and monetary donations. Last year the JS Realty Team raised more than $5,000 while also volunteering over a dozen hours of their personal time.

The JS Realty Team @ Samson Properties Team has closed more than $500 million dollars in Real Estate transactions. The Team is dedicated to building lifelong relationships, and helping clients fulfill their dreams through ethical, honest, and fair real estate solutions.

For more information on the tournament, or to find out how you can help us end child hunger, contact Sarah Taylor at 703-475-1003 or email: Sarah@JSRealty4U.com.

#endchildhunger

Step Sisters 2016 Ribbon Run

The Step Sisters – Not Your Average Breast Cancer Organization

Ribbon Run photographs are courtesy of Jessica Monte Photography. 

There’s no limit to the number of organizations out there right now who are trying to raise money to find a cure for Breast Cancer. And rightly so. According to the CDC Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women, no matter your race or ethnicity. About 220,000 women (and about 2,000 men) are diagnosed annually. But with much of the focus on finding a cure, who is there for the patient going through it? That’s where the Step Sisters come in.

They are a team of breast cancer survivors, mothers, sisters, daughters, brothers, sons and fathers who have all been touched in some way by breast cancer and want to “pay it forward” for those in need.JS Realty StepSisters logo2

The Step Sisters Mission: Improving the quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer by funding needed support services in Loudoun County and the surrounding community.

The Step Sisters have expanded their reach and currently serve breast cancer patients in Loudoun and Fairfax counties.  Services include: transportation, home cleaning, meals/fresh food delivery, childcare, dog walking and lawn care/snow removal. And their patients are extremely grateful for their help:step sisters

This past spring, the JS Realty Team was a sponsor for the Step Sisters’ 5K Ribbon Run in Brambleton, VA. We were also active participants!step sisters

When choosing a charity to support, we want to be sure we are making an impact locally – and not just financially. We want to be active in assisting an organization that uplifts and supports the community. Since we live, work, and play in Brambleton, the Step Sisters was an easy decision. And the Ribbon Run is always a fun event!step sisters ribbon run jsrealty4u

Almost our entire team (and a few family members!) showed up to the Ribbon Run event. Wearing matching gray capes with a fun logo on it, we walked, ran, photographed, and took video of the 5K and Kids Fun Run course that was set up around the Brambleton Town Center & trails.step sisters jsrealty4u superhero

The first one from our team to cross the finish line was Beth! Way to go!!
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Beth was quickly followed by Scott, Jackie, Sarah, and the rest of the team.

The Step Sisters are always looking for new ways to meet the needs of breast cancer patients and continue to add new services. You can learn more about how to volunteer or join one of their fun events at StepSisters.org.

Keeping Pets Safe During Winter

Helpful tips on keeping your pets safe this winter.

Winter has finally arrived! As most owners know, this time of year can be a challenge for pets. And while we haven’t seen a snow storm yet, chances are pretty good we will before Spring. We’ve checked in with the ASPCA and the Humane Society to collect some helpful tips for keeping your pets safe and warm during the cold winter months!

sudley in snow jsrealty4u Sarah Taylor
Sudley taking a walk

LEASH YOUR DOG
Aside from the county leash laws, it’s just good common sense to keep your dogs on a leash while walking them. Especially during a snow storm, where they could very easily run away and get lost. And when you head out, make sure your dog is wearing his ID tags in case he manages to get loose.

Penny Katie Hofer jsrealty4u pets
Penny playing in the snow

WIPE ANIMALS DOWN
Snow, ice, salt, and other chemicals can be harmful to your pet if ingested or left on their paw pads. If you’ve been out, wipe your pet down thoroughly when you return. Be sure to check paws, legs, and stomach.

pet Taylor Jsrealty4u
Taylor checking out the snow

KEEP ANIMALS INSIDE
Outside, animals can very easily freeze, get lost or stolen, or worse. It’s best to keep pets indoors as much as possible. Be sure they have a place to sleep that’s off the floor and away from drafts. A pet bed and/or blankets and pillows work well.

Thunder Katie Hofer JSRealty pet
Our fur buddy Thunder

GROOMING
A longer coat will provide more warmth, so hold off on that “shave and a haircut” until the weather warms up. Consider purchasing a sweater for shorter hair breeds. And if you have to bathe your pet, completely dry them before taking them outside. Better yet, use a dry shampoo powder to freshen them up so you can skip the bath altogether.

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Penny & Molly playing

CREATIVE PLAY & FEEDING
Got an active pet? Laser pointers, interactive toys, and tricks-for-treats are great ways to keep your animal mentally and physically active without spending time outside. And you may want to up their food portions a bit too, since regulating body temperature takes more energy!

CHECK UNDER YOUR CAR
If you live in an area where animals roam free, it’s a good idea to give a loud knock on the hood of your car, or even honk your horn once before starting it up. This should help scare off any cats, squirrels, or other little creature that might have sought out warmth under the hood of your car.

jsrealty4u sam pets Beth Wenner
Sam taking a break

NEVER LEAVE ANIMALS IN THE CAR
Your pets should never be left unattended in a car. The car can act like a refrigerator during winter months, holding in the cold and could cause your pet to freeze to death.

CLEAN UP ANTIFREEZE SPILLS
Antifreeze – like coolant – is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Unfortunately pets are attracted to the smell and taste of it. Immediately clean up any spills from your vehicle to prevent accidental ingestion. And consider using products that contain propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. However, neither is safe for cats.

If you’re interested in adding a dog or cat to your family this year, check out our furry buddies at Friends of Homeless Animals.
FriendsofHomelessAnimalsLOGO

MEET THE STEP SISTERS

Today we’d like to introduce you to The Step Sisters, one of the 4 local charities that the JS Realty Team supports!

JS Realty Step Sisters breast cancer factThe Step Sisters began in 2005, with a small group of women and men who’d been impacted by breast cancer in some way. Now over 100 “members” strong, the Step Sisters recently made a huge shift in their fundraising goals and focused in on a specific mission: to support and provide much needed quality-of-life services for local breast cancer patients.

Based in Loudoun County’s Brambleton community, these breast cancer JS Realty StepSisters logo2survivors, mothers, sisters, daughters, brothers, sons, and fathers who have all been touched by this terrible disease have raised more than $500,000 for the breast cancer cause. Wanting to help local patients in a positive way, The Step Sisters partnered with INOVA Loudoun Hospital, INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital and INOVA Fairfax Hospital and now fund four main services for breast cancer patients: fresh food delivery, house cleaning, child care, and transportation to and from appointments.

Interested in helping The Step Sisters and their mission? There are several ways to make a difference – and have some fun!

JS Realty Step Sisters scramble golfKick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month by registering for the 2015 Step Sisters Scramble Golf Tournament! The 4-person scramble, followed by a lunch and awards reception will take place on Thursday, October 8th at the The Golf Club of Lansdowne.

JS Realty Step Sisters ribbon-run-logoMark your calendar for the 8th annual Brambleton Ribbon Run/Walk on Saturday, April 16, 2016.  This certified 5K & 10K race also includes a Kids Fun Run!

Make a Donation. Funds are directed to helping The Step Sisters provide quality-of-life services to local breast cancer patients. As the organization grows, they hope to expand their service offerings.

The Step Sisters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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The JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.

 

FRIENDS OF HOMELESS ANIMALS

Why we support the Friends of Homeless Animals

We have recently been discussing some wonderful local charities. Today we are sharing more about one of favorites, Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA). Friends of Homeless Animals is one of the top 4 local charities that the JS Realty Team supports by raising money and volunteering at during their local events. We even attended their dog walking course so we can visit the property and give the dogs some much needed attention and time. We all love our furry friends and they need help too!

JS Realty Cute Little Chihuahua Wearing A Blue JumperFOHA strives to: bring an end to the unnecessary killing of companion animals, provide a safe haven for abused and abandoned animals, provide food, shelter, medical care, rehabilitation, and compassion to homeless animals, find permanent, loving homes for the animals in our care and most importantly, bring about a time when there will be no more homeless pets and every dog and cat can be guaranteed a loving home.

FOHA is located in Aldie, VA and was founded by Judge Anne Lewis in 1973. She was inspired to open a no kill shelter and devoted the next 32 years of her life to homeless animals. Still in operation today, they strive to provide the highest quality medical care possible and have a careful adoption process and a unique lifetime pet return policy.jsrealty4u animalsOver the last four decades, FOHA has saved and placed in forever homes tens of thousands of dogs and cats who would otherwise have been abandoned or killed. This is the legacy of Anne Lewis.

To find out more about adopting your next pet, or if you are interested in volunteering or donating, please contact FOHA.

GENEROSITY FEEDS

Living in Northern Virginia we all have a lot to be thankful for. Last week we blogged about how we decided to partner with 4 local charities to do our part in giving back to Loudoun County and the surrounding communities. The first organization we highlighted was Serve our Wounded Warriors. The JS Realty Team has learned and grown a lot by researching and selecting charities to work with. This has been a passion we have wanted to implement for a while and we are fortunate to be able to kick off our donations and volunteering to these four special organizations.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Generosity Feeds.

JS Realty Generosity Feeds1 in 5 children in America struggle with hunger. In Loudoun County around 13% of our students qualify for reduced or free meals in our schools. Generosity Feeds takes the next step by ensuring that those children have food when they are not at school. Their experienced team works with organizations to mobilize hundreds of volunteers to package 10,000 or more meals in just a couple of hours. These meals are then distributed to local schools and food banks that facilitate the delivery of the meals to the children that need it.

JS Realty Generosity FeedsWe recently met with the President of Generosity Feeds, Ron Klabunde, and came away from the meeting knowing that we wanted to one day be able to sponsor a packaging event. Ron’s insight into how the process worked and the way they were able to get the free meals to the children in our community was inspiring. Ron and his team are working to “decrease effects of food insecurity on children in your area by packaging and providing nutritious and delicious meals for those children in need”. Their vision is to feed hungry children in every county throughout America. They have already succeeded in our area, as well as many other counties across America.

JSrealty4u generosity feedsReady to get involved? Want to help make a difference? We encourage you to JOIN THE JS REALTY TEAM at the next Generosity Feeds event on Saturday, September 12th in Chantilly, VA and help us make 10,000 meals! This is a family event, and children as young as 3 can participate.

If you’re not able to attend in person, you can still donate! As little as $30 can help feed 30 children. Event registration and additional details can be found here.

We hope to see you there!

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The JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.

WILLING WARRIORS CHARITY

The JS Realty Team is committed to giving back to our community through monetary donations and by volunteering our time. After researching local charities we painstakingly narrowed our selections down to four that we are now building a relationship with. Over the next few weeks we will be highlighting each of the organization to raise awareness and show you what it was that made us want to work with them.

SOWW charityToday we point the spotlight at Serve Our Willing Warriors (SOWW).

For over 9 years this organization has been providing “a little taste of home” for wounded, ill, and injured warriors. SOWW started in 2006 with a grassroots campaign with a small group from a local church in Haymarket, VA. They started off sponsoring events such as gift-giving at holidays, summer cookouts, and visitation for lonely service and family members. These volunteers came away with an enormous desire to do more for these incredible service members. The original volunteers were moved by the remarkable sense of community, mutual support and can-do attitudes of the injured service members who faced such daunting challenges. That was when they knew they had to do more. JS Realty SOWW RetreatThrough their visits they discovered a need for a little piece of a “normal life” for the service members. This lead to their mission to provide our country’s recovering wounded, ill, and injured warriors and their families with encouragement, support and even a vacation from their daily norm. Something like a “home away from home.”

With this in mind, SOWW recently opened The Bull Run Warrior Retreat in Haymarket. The retreat is located on 44 acres on the edge of the Bull Run Mountains. At the moment there is an 11,000 sq. ft. home with plans to add 3 cottages to increase the room for outpatient warriors and their families to spend well needed vacation breaks from the hospital environment. The next stage will be to add additional amenities to the property including gardens, walking trails, a pond, and much more.SOWW JSRealty4U

SOWW hosts many sponsored events throughout the year to benefit the Bull Run Warrior Retreat. JS Realty SOWW 1st Golf TourneyThis fall, come out and join the JS Realty Team at the SOWW 3rd Annual Golf Tournament on October 5th! You can download the Golf Tournament flyer for more information. For you serious (and casual) bike riders, the 2nd Annual Cycling Charity Ride will take place on October 17th. Additional details can be found on the Cycling flyer. In December, SOWW will continue their tradition of visiting the troops at Walter Reed Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital.

As you can see, this touched our hearts and is a charity that we wanted to get involved with. For more information on this remarkable charity and to register for their upcoming events visit their website.

 

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The JS Realty Team – not only serving Brambleton, serving all of Northern Virginia.