Started in 2005, REALTOR® Care Day is an annual day of service to the communities in which REALTORS® live, work and raise families.
In the last 19 years, REALTOR® Care Day has contributed $676,000 in improvements and repairs and hundreds of hours of service to residents and communities around central Ohio.
Although REALTORS® donate time and talent to their communities throughout the year, this one-day event focuses the energy of hundreds of volunteers in areas all over the central Ohio area. With careful planning, preparation and the dedication of many volunteers, it's amazing how much can be accomplished in one day!
2025 REALTOR® Care Day
For its 21st anniversary, REALTOR® Care Day 2025 took on the Van Buren Shelter, operated by the YMCA of Central Ohio and funded by the Community Shelter Board. This is one of the largest shelters in the nation, capable of serving between 600 and 800 individuals each night. The shelter provides services under one roof for three groups: single adult women, families with dependent children, and single adult men.
Over 150 members made a huge impact at the main project, sponsoring and building 111 care baskets, assembling a shed from the ground up, picking up trash in and around the facility, organizing storage areas, preparing fruit and snack bags, and completely refurbishing the raised garden beds and children's playground at the Van Buren Shelter.
“REALTOR® Care Day is such an inspiring day,” said Columbus REALTORS® President Buffie Patterson. “To have so many of our members spread across central Ohio, making a difference in their communities, is extraordinary.”
The 2025 REALTOR® Care Day committee Co-Chairs are Blair Bishop, Nikki Wicks, and Jesse Shkolnik.
Held on June 11, the event extended to over 20 real estate area association and industry partner projects, resulting in nearly 600 total volunteers for one day of annual service.
Watch the 2025 REALTOR® Care Day recap video here.
REALTOR® Care Day Weiler Grant
The REALTOR® Care Day Weiler Grant, established in 2014, was created to recognize Area Realty Association projects that exemplify the principles of REALTOR® Care Day. The grant was named for Skip Weiler, founder of REALTOR® Care Day. Those Associations chosen to receive a Weiler Grant will receive an additional $500 in funding, which they may use toward their REALTOR® Care Day project the following year.
2024 REALTOR® Care Day
For its 20th anniversary, REALTOR® Care Day 2024 turned its efforts to the Brian Muha Foundation Run the Race Center. Over 120 REALTORS® at the main project divided and conquered 3 different projects at the site, including painting the interior hallway of the day school, laying mulch, landscaping, and putting together a playset and picnic tables in the outdoor play area, and building beds for 51 children who had been identified by the Muha Foundation as in need.
The 2024 REALTOR® Care Day committee co-chairs were Katie Crocco, Erin Ogden Oxender, and Ian Thickstun. These three became team leaders for the project, and their time and efforts - along with the rest of the committee - helped make the day a success. The projects would not have been completed without the kindness and efforts of our bed sponsors who helped provide 51 beds to children in need, Black Tie Moving who helped deliver the built beds to children in the Hilltop Community, and Equity, LLC who partially sponsored a privacy fence around the outdoor play area volunteers built at the main project.
June 7 marked the 19th installment of this event, with over 20 community projects, 150+ volunteers at the main project, and hundreds of volunteers spread across various communities. Over 150 members attended and volunteered at the main project in Linden, including activities for children who painted rocks and flowerpots used in a rock garden at the elementary school. Nearly 40 miles away from the main project, in any given direction, you could find local area associations completing their own REALTOR® Care Day projects.
Columbus REALTORS® is proud to announce that the Powell Area Realty Association (PARA), Greater Dublin Realty Association, and the Delaware County Board of REALTORS® are the 2023 REALTOR® Care Day Weiler Grant winners.
24 groups, 44 projects, 600+ volunteers! Over $53,000 re-invested into Central Ohio!
Over 600 local REALTORS®, family and friends cleaned, painted, pruned and planted on 6/8/22 as part of the Columbus REALTORS®’ 18th annual REALTOR® Care Day, helping improve many homes and organizations all over central Ohio! In addition to improving the properties of six home owners, the main project included extensive weeding and improvements to The Miracle Garden in Linden. Volunteers planted fruits and vegetables and other plants throughout and also painted the fence surrounding the garden.
Weiler Grants awarded to CCIIR, IREM and Marysville groups for their 2022 REALTOR® Care Day projects.
24 groups, 44 projects, 500+ volunteers! Over $53,000 re-invested!
For the main project this year, led by co-chairs Matt Osowski and Amanda Roderick, 100 volunteers worked on four homes, a children’s safe space, a community garden and litter abatement in Southern Orchards/Southside CAN neighborhoods. In addition, 23 area realty and industry associations hosted community service projects all over central Ohio! Read more about their projects.
Both the North Area Realty Association and the Delaware County Board of Realtors were awarded Weiler grants in honor of their 2021 REALTOR® Care Day projects.
In 2020, more than 70 volunteers turned out over two days for a socially-distanced REALTOR® Care Day!
Revamped for COVID-19, REALTORS® completed landscaping for five Ronald McDonald House extended-stay homes, built a community garden, painted decks and fences, and painted and planted 50 flower pots for families staying at the center.
Thirteen area realty associations hosted their own community service projects in 2020, some on the same day and others throughout the rest of the year. Read more about their projects!
24 groups, 41 projects, 643 volunteers! Over $60,000 re-invested!
In 2019, Columbus REALTORS® returned to Milo-Grogan to improve 10 homes, the community garden, pick up litter and host a Kids Zone. In addition to funding from the Columbus REALTORS® Foundation, Columbus REALTORS® was fortunate to receive grants from the Joseph A. Jeffrey Fund at the Columbus Foundation and Scott’s Miracle-Gro Foundation Community Garden Academy. In addition, 23 area realty and industry associations hosted community service projects all over central Ohio! Read more about their projects.
Both the Gahanna Area and Greater Dublin groups were awarded Weiler grants in honor of their 2019 REALTOR® Care Day projects. Read more about their projects.
23 groups, 52 projects, 641 volunteers! Over $55,000 re-invested!
In 2018, the main project included exterior improvements for 17 homes, one business, and a community garden in Columbus' Milo-Grogan neighborhood. Supplies were also donated to the Boys & Girls Club and a Kids Zone was hosted for the area youth. In addition, 22 area realty and industry associations hosted community service projects all over central Ohio!
Both the Big Walnut and Madison County Area Realty Associations were awarded Weiler grants in honor of their 2018 REALTOR® Care Day projects. Read more about their projects.
24 groups, 45 projects, 604 volunteers! Over $73,300 re-invested!
In 2017, the main project included exterior improvements for 10 properties and creation of two pocket parks in the Hungarian Village area of Columbus’ South Side. In addition, 23 area realty associations hosted community service projects all over central Ohio!
Both the Northwest Area Real Estate Association and DKLM (Delaware Know Licking Morrow) Suburban Realty Association were awarded our REALTOR® Care Day Weiler grant in honor of their 2017 REALTOR® Care Day projects. Read more about their projects.
23 groups, 40 projects, 484 volunteers! Over $38,257 re-invested!
In 2016, volunteers worked on 12 homes and a community garden in the Reeb-Hosack neighborhood in Columbus’ south side. In addition, 22 area realty associations hosted community service projects all over central Ohio!
Both the Greater Worthington Area Real Estate Association and the Tri-County Area Realty Association were awarded our REALTOR® Care Day Weiler grant in honor of their 2016 REALTOR® Care Day projects. Read more about their projects.
22 groups, 29 projects, 475 volunteers! Over $32,656 re-invested!
In 2015, the main project included several beautification projects on W. Broad Street in Franklinton. In addition, 21 area realty association hosted community service projects all over central Ohio!
In 2015, the Pickaway County Realty Association was awarded the REALTOR® Care Day Weiler Grant for their work at the Marvin Webster Memorial Park in South Bloomfield. Read more about their project.
21 groups, 30 projects, 531 volunteers! Over $45,000 re-invested!
The 2014 main project included enhancements on the Long Street corridor in the King Lincoln District of Columbus. In addition, 20 area realty association hosted community service projects all over central Ohio!
In 2014, the Tri-County Realty Association and the Greater Worthington Area Realty Association were both awarded the REALTOR® Care Day Weiler grant in honor of their 2014 REALTOR® Care Day projects. Read more about their projects.
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