Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

Putting abuse out of commission

“ The Women’s Shelter saved mine and my daughter’s lives. I believe that statement sums up how much the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation means to me. It is the reason I chose Royal LePage as my brokerage over all of the others. The more I learned about what a wonderful charity it is, the more it solidified for me the excellent choice I made. I want to be a part of something that can potentially help others to rise above family violence and triumph in their lives, as I have done.”

- Darlis Bachusky, Alberta (Agent of ChangeVolunteer)

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Royal LePage real estate professionals, the Shelter Foundation has raised more than $10 million to end family violence. We’ve become Canada’s largest foundation dedicated exclusively to funding women’s shelters and violence prevention programs. In 2009, we broke all previous records raising nearly $1.5 million! The best part is, because Royal LePage Canada underwrites all administrative costs of our charity, 100 per cent of every penny went directly to helping more than 30,000 women and children.

“ I’m proud of the work being done by the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation across Canada to assist women and children who are in need of a safe place. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be involved in something that is changing and saving lives right in my own community.“

- Norm Fisher, Saskatchewan (Top 1 per cent donor and

Shelter Award Winner)

Through donating a portion of commission on the purchase or sale on behalf of clients’ property, our agents are helping create safer homes and safer communities. Our brokers, agents and staff are also actively volunteering at their local shelters, collecting in-kind goods, planting Shelter Blooms tulips and holding special community events – all to raise funds and awareness for our cause.

Our biggest national initiative is the National Garage Sale for Shelter. At our second annual event on Saturday, May 15, nearly 130 Royal LePage offices raised more than $300,000 generating 19 million media impressions. Thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of our garage sale committees in every province, we more than doubled our results from 2009. Together we mounted the biggest fundraiser in the history of the Shelter Foundation and the biggest charity garage sale ever in Canada. The event was generously supported by some extraordinary sponsors -- Atlas Van Lines Canada, TD Canada Trust Mobile Mortgage Specialists and Advance Commission Company of Canada.

“Helping You is What We Do” is not just a collection of words sitting beneath our logo. Royal LePage agents, brokers and staff care deeply about giving back to the

The Garage Sale for Shelter is a total winwin event: not only did we raise significant funds to help women and children escape abuse, but our office also enjoyed a great team experience and we raised our profile in the neighbourhood.

– Leila Brewster, Toronto

community. Thanks to their commitment, families’ lives will be forever changed, kids will be able to sleep through the night and women at the 150 shelters we support will be safe.

“ The Foundation is by far our biggest donor. The financial support that we receive from you is invaluable to our ability to continue to provide programming and support to women and their children who are rebuilding their lives in the wake of abuse. Thank you for the work that you do in aid of Margaret Laurence House and in aid of the other shelters who also benefit from your time, energy and passion for supporting women in transition from abuse.”

- Margaret Laurence House, Victoria BC

Our focus is also on breaking the cycle of violence. We are helping to educate the next generation about safe relationships through the Fourth R Project and funding violence prevention grants with our partners, the Canadian Women’s Foundation.

“ Canadian Women’s Foundation is proud to partner with the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. Together we are supporting shelters for women and children fleeing abuse, programs to help women and their children rebuild their lives after abuse, and education programs to prevent abuse in the first place. And we are doing this in local communities all across Canada. Royal LePage brokers, agents, employees and management, through their support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation and our partnership, are outstanding business leaders on this issue in Canada.”

- Beverley Wybrow,

President & CEO,

Canadian Women’s Foundation

Congratulations to our 2009 Shelter Award Winners:

Shelter Award recipients are nominated by you for making an outstanding or extraordinary contribution of time and effort to their local shelter and the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. We are thrilled at the chance to be able to recognize some of our unsung heroes.

Philanthropist of the Year: Ruthe Penner Partner of the Year: TD Canada Trust Alberta Individual: Jerry Aulenbach Alberta Office: RLP True North Realty BC Individual: Sebastian Albrecht BC Office: RLP Coronation West East Coast Individual: Carla Bouchard East Coast Office: RLP Atlantic - Halifax Manitoba Individual: Rick Preston Manitoba Office: RLP Prime Ontario: Individual: Susan Taylor

Ontario Team:

RLP Lakes of Muskoka-Dwight Ontario Office: RLP Credit Valley

Quebec Individual:

Caroline Magnan-David Quebec Office: RLP Village Pointe Claire Saskatchewan Individual: Norm Fisher

Saskatchewan Team:

RLP Phil Robertson Realty

Thank you to all of our generous donors!

Top 1 per cent 2009 Shelter Foundation Donors:

Lauretta Stewart, Doug Hayden, Norm Fisher, Julio Florez, Don Gault, Victoria Schumann, James Wright, Elli Davis, Cliff Stevenson, Brian Elder, Heather Heaps.

What once was a dream of hope and peace is now our reality. This is an accomplishment that I am very proud of and I would not be where I am today without the shelter. For women like me who, for so long lived in isolation, it is deeply moving to see all the people that care. Thank you for being here and to every Royal LePage agent across Canada who donates to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation and volunteers at their local shelter. Thank you for supporting the programs that saved my life.