REALTORS® do more than assist real property buyers and sellers – they are active members of your community, volunteering their time to help a variety of local, national and international organizations.  We are very proud of the work that all of our members do in their communities,and we encourage you to contact any of these organizations or our members, as listed below, to find out how you can lend a hand.

The NHAR Good Neighbor Award program was established in 2003 to recognize the efforts of New Hampshire REALTORS® who are making exceptional contributions to improve the quality of life in their communities. Eligible activities are not limited to real estate or housing issues and may include such things as crime prevention, youth mentoring and homelessness prevention.

 Each year one or two winners are selected from applications and honored at the NHAR Annual Convention. Each winner receives:  

• $1,000 donation in their name to their community charity
• Ceremony at the recipient's charity of choice
• Coverage in their local media and on NHAR.com
• Prestigious crystal award
• Use of the Good Neighbors Awards logo on their Web site and promotional materials

Karen Lavoie

Karen Lavoie of Keeler Family REALTORS® in Pembroke was a recipient of the 2008 Good Neighbor Award for her work with the Rape and Domestic Violence Crisis Center located in Concord.

The Center assists dozens of victims of violence a year. With your help they could assist more! In addition to providing emergency shelter the center facilitates the education of victims and arranging for legal representation as well as providing policy input and education to our legislators and other policy makers.

Laurie Widmark

Laurie Widmark of Three Crowns Real Estate in Dover was a recipient of the 2008 Good Neighbor Award for her work with the Ageless Dreamer Foundation, the purpose of which is to make dreams come true for our older generations who are unable to do so for themselves. Through the generosity of those who join in our membership, along with enthusiastic volunteers, we'll begin to tell the stories of dreams that are no longer impossible.

Raising the level of public awareness for the untapped knowledge and wisdom of our older generations is a natural extension of the dream making process. Through a variety of efforts, we will begin to erase the stigma of being older; which, has become so prevalent in our society.

2007 Winner

Ellen Chase

Ellen Chase of the Seacoast Board of REALTORS® was the 2007 recipient of the Good Neighbor Award for her work with Community Home Solutions, Inc., a 501c (3) that helps prevent people from going into foreclosure on their homes by providing winterization projects, fuel assistance, food baskets and financial literacy training.

2006 Winner

Mary Magnell 

2005 Winner

Mary Beth Gustitus

• Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter
• Nashua Children’s Home
• Southern NH Children’s Services
• Tolles Street Mission
• Upper Room
• Norwell House
• The Gathering Place
• Pine Street Shelter for Men
• Kinsley Street Shelter for Women & Families

• The Boys & Girls Club of Nashua  

2004 Winners

Rick Ruo

Rick is a tireless volunteer with the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter, dedicated to providing shelter and food to those in need.  The overall objective of the agency is to advocate, create and operate programs and services that promote dignity and self-sufficiency for those it serves, and to ensure that basic needs are addressed.  The NSKS is committed to joining with others in a community-wide ethic of caring.

Judy Williams 

Not long after her trip, Tammy passed from this world. But Tammy’s spirit lives on in The Dream Factory’s mission to grant the wishes of critically ill children at a time when they need it most.The Dream Factory has grown into one of the nation’s largest wish granting organizations, with local chapters throughout the nation and a national headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.In the first ten years The Dream Factory has granted wishes to over 7,000 children.  We are about to celebrate our anniversary of 20 years, granting wishes to those who need a smile in their lives. 

2003 Winners

Marybeth Angeli

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization which welcomes all people to join us as we build simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those who lack adequate shelter.  Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 175, 000 houses, providing shelter for nearly 900,000 people worldwide. Now at work in 100 countries, we are building a house every 26 minutes. By 2005, Habitat houses will be sheltering 1 million people.  Local Habitat affiliates coordinate house building and select partner families.