GHAR Good Neighbor Award
GHAR Good Neighbor Award Program
The annual GHAR Good Neighbor Award recognizes a REALTOR® who has made an extraordinary impact on their community through volunteer work. More importantly, $1000 will be awarded to the approved 501c3 charity! This is a great way to shed light on a worthy cause and encourage others to volunteer. Nominees must be members in good standing of GHAR.
One winner will be announced in April to allow enough time to apply for the NAR Good Neighbor Award deadline in May. That will potentially maximize the grant money received for the winner's charity. The winner & corresponding charity will be recognized in all GHAR communications channels. The winner will also receive $1,000 in grant money for their charity, courtesy of the GHAR Foundation.
APPLICATION
Rules/Eligibility | Application
Application submissions are closed for 2025. Please check back in April of 2026!
Please email fillable PDF form, with any attachments, to Keara Langston: klangston@gharonline.com. Also, use this address for any questions.
Good Neighbor Sponsorship Opportunity
This award is a great sponsorship opportunity for an organization seeking to partner with the GHAR Foundation. Align community outreach initiatives with amazing REALTOR® volunteers. It's a win-win! Email Keara Langston for more information.
2025 Good Neighbor Award Winner: Couch Pipa VFW Post 6851
The Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS® (GHAR) is proud to announce that Wendy Eichman, a GHAR member and broker with Raynard & Peirce Realty, is the recipient of the 2025 GHAR Good Neighbor Award. The award is in recognition of her charitable work on behalf of Couch Pipa VFW Post 6851 in Caanan, CT. The award recognizes a REALTOR® who has made an extraordinary impact on their community through their volunteer time and talents. As a result of Wendy’s volunteer work, VFW Post 6851 will receive $1,000 from the GHAR Foundation.
For over 16 years, Wendy has volunteered with Couch Pipa VFW and is a lifetime auxiliary member of the post. She created the Sunset Music Series, which includes local bands playing at the VFW every Thursday night from June to August. The money raised with this series aids in maintaining the VFW building and the services provided to 181 veterans who belong to this post. Her volunteer work includes hours upon hours of fundraising and community outreach. READ FULL RELEASE
2024 Good Neighbor Award Winner: The Kids of Summer Foundation
The Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS® (GHAR) is proud to announce that Jon Sheaffer, a GHAR member and broker of Sheaffer & Co. Real Estate, is the recipient of the 2024 GHAR Good Neighbor Award. The award is in recognition of his charitable work on behalf of The Kids of Summer Foundation. The award recognizes a REALTOR® who has made an extraordinary impact on their community through their volunteer time and talents. As a result of Jon’s volunteer work, as well as the work of his co-founder Feliks Viner, The Kids of Summer Foundation will receive $1000 from the GHAR Foundation.
Jon has volunteered for The Kids of Summer for five years and currently serves on their Board of Directors as co-chairman. This non-profit based in Avon, CT., forges relationships with local camps to provide full or partial funding for children’s families as well as providing original educational enrichment programming. His volunteer work includes fundraising, community outreach, and review of grant applications. READ FULL RELEASE
2023 Good Neighbor Award Winner: Christine Green and Protectors of Animals
GHAR is proud to announce that Christine Green, a GHAR member and broker of Ardor Real Estate, is the recipient of the 2023 GHAR Good Neighbor Award in recognition of her charitable work on behalf of Protectors of Animals. The award recognizes a Realtor® who has made an extraordinary impact on their community through their volunteer time and talents. As a result of Christine’s volunteer work, Protectors of Animals will receive $1000 from the GHAR Foundation.
Green has volunteered with Protectors of Animals for five years and currently serves on their Board of Directors. Her volunteer work includes feeding, walking, teaching basic commands, cleaning out pens and providing tons of love to each and every one of the dogs and cats at the shelter. Not only has Christine donated money and countless hours, she has also adopted two dogs that were hard to place due to medical issues.
READ FULL RELEASE
2022 Good Neighbor Award Winner: Veronica Marshall and US Horse Welfare & Rescue
GHAR is proud to announce that Veronica Marshall, a Realtor® with William Raveis, is the recipient of the 2022 GHAR Good Neighbor Award in recognition of her charitable work on behalf of the US Horse Welfare & Rescue (USHWR). The award recognizes a Realtor® who has made an extraordinary impact on their community through their volunteer time and talents. As a result of Veronica’s volunteer work, USHWR will receive $1000 from the GHAR Foundation.
Marshall has volunteered for USHWR since 2019 and currently serves on the Board of Directors. She not only helps organize their signature fundraising event, After the Roses, but also volunteers every Saturday morning to help feed and turnout the animals. She is particularly proud of the events for the community to come meet the horses and the after-school programs for kids.
2021 First Good Neighbor Award Winner: Susan Shimkus Lemkuil and the CT Brain Tumor Alliance
(Hartford, Conn., April 26, 2021) – GHAR is proud to announce that Susan Shimkus Lemkuil, a Realtor® with SML Real Estate, Inc, is the first recipient of the 2021 GHAR Good Neighbor Award in recognition of her charitable work on behalf of CT Brain Tumor Alliance (CTBTA).
Pictured (L to R): Alexa Kebalo Hughes, GHAR 2021 President; Susan Shimkus Lemkuil; Holly Callanan, GHAR CEO; Chris Cusano, CTBTA Executive Director; and Jen Boilard, 2021 GHAR Community Involvement Committee Chair.
Lemkuil, a brain tumor survivor, has advocated for the CTBTA for over 14 years and has since helped raise meaningful dollars along with countless volunteer hours to support CTBTA, a charity that offers the community four programs in which to assist: patient outreach, patient assistance, brain tumor research and brain tumor program support. As part of the award, CTBTA received a check for $1000, provided by the GHAR Foundation.