Conscious Real Estate agents donate 10% of their own commission to a nonprofit of their clients’ choice. These awesome clients chose: The Gathering Place.
Kimberly McAleenan, Conscious Real Estate Agent, with the Hubbards, who chose The Gathering Place for their donation.
“I had the most amazing joy helping Teri, Kyle and their daughter Kasey purchase their first home. The Gathering Place helped Teri get her life situated when she needed help and it felt incredibly full circle to be able to donate money back to them after Teri and Kyle closed on their home.” – Conscious Real Estate Agent, Kimberly McAleenan
The Gathering Place: A Refuge For Building Lives
“The Gathering Place was a safe place for my kids and me to spend our days and get a good meal, while I tried to get back on my feet. I was pregnant at the time and I don’t know if I or my daughter would have survived without them. It’s very hard to better yourself without a support system. The Gathering Place filled that role for me. I can never thank them enough for all they did for us!” -Teri, a former Gathering Place member, current amazing human.
A Denver Non-Profit Gets a Boost From Conscious Real Estate
Conscious Real Estate is a local real estate agency that loves their clients and the community, showing it in a big way by personally donating 10% of every commission to a nonprofit of their clients’ choosing. This programming allows for large, lump sum donations that make a big difference for the nonprofits they pick.
For the recipient charities, this can help one more person into the program, help purchase supplies, secure a contractor, help with building maintenance or any of their current needs. You’ve heard it before, but sharing is caring and at Conscious Real Estate, we are honored to be a part of supporting the nonprofit community here in Denver.
Donations Aid Programming…. Like This One! (Yep, They Do Even More!)
“On top of all the amazing things The Gathering Place does for people, I love that they have an artist program that allows people to create art and cards. The art/cards are then sold and the artist gets the majority of the money. I bought a bunch of these cards, not just because the money supports a good cause and helps the people who created them, but also because the art was fantastic!” – Conscious Real Estate Agent, Kimberly McAleenan
Donations can help nonprofits expand into new areas. Such as social enterprise. Art Restart is a new way for homeless women to make money (they make 50% commission on their art, the rest goes back to The Gathering Place to support programming), and get a sense of acknowledgment and accomplishment for their artistic skills through their custom and original greeting card program. Find out more about Art Restart (or purchase some cards!), right here.
https://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/TGPCREGraphic.png10501650Allison Parkshttps://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/logo.pngAllison Parks2019-01-05 00:07:022019-01-05 00:26:44Conscious Real Estate Supports The Gathering Place
Conscious Real Estate agents donate 10% of their own commission from a home sale or purchase to a nonprofit of their clients’ choosing.
Conscious Real Estate Agent Kimberly McAleenan is a veteran herself. So, when her clients chose Veterans to Farmers as part of their 10% nonprofit donation, she was elated.
Kimberly explains: “Veterans to Farmers is an amazing organization that helps give Veterans a purpose after getting out of the military. They teach Veterans the tools they need to switch their mindsets from the military mindset to an agricultural mindset.”
“They also educate and encourage Veterans to pursue their new paths to success. This non-profit has completely changed my client Luke B’s life and gave him new purpose,” she says.
More than anything, he wanted a home with a massive garage so he could have a space to grow mushrooms (for cooking not hallucinating!) and also be able to help educate other veterans on the process.
“I am honored to have helped Luke with the VA home buying process and to be able to donate to such an fantastic Veteran non-profit,” Kimberly beams.
Conscious Real Estate Agent Kimberly McAleenan (left), with her client who chose Veterans to Farmers for his over $800 donation.
Veterans to Farmers is an organization dedicated to “turning protectors into providers” by teaching them valuable skills as hydroponic and in-soil farmers. The goal is a return to the family farm, powered by veterans. Farming is also a therapeutic way to channel their energy following trauma, and of course, can help make new bonds, whether with the plants, or fellow program participants – it gives options for healing, while working toward a positive goal.
Conscious Real Estate is proud to partner with local nonprofits with unique solutions to help people – such as farming!
Kimberly McAleenan presents a large donation to Veterans to Farmers.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have about Denver neighborhoods, the housing market, an intro to lending programs, or (often our favorite), insight into historical homes (we love ‘em!). We’re here for you and standing by.
https://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/veterans-to-farmers.jpg10501650Allison Parkshttps://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/logo.pngAllison Parks2018-12-20 14:07:162018-12-20 14:21:15Conscious Real Estate Supports Veterans to Farmers
Conscious Real Estate was founded on the principle of giving. 10% of every home sale or purchase is donated to a charity of our clients’ choice.
Karis Community starts with grace.
In fact, the word karis means grace in Greek. As a verb, it means to honor to give honor or credit to one’s presence. And, that is just what Karis Community does, since 1976, they have honored adults with mental illness who are choosing to show up and receive help for their struggles through their programming.
Life on its own isn’t easy. When you have a chronic illness, whether physical or mental, life can be nearly impossible. It takes a community to help us get out of situations we’ve fallen into. And, it can be really easy to get from one place to another in small slips. Many times when our loved ones get to a place where they need help, we wonder, how did they get there?
When one thing goes wrong, the spiral downward is fast.
How does it happen? Two metaphors we can relate to are weight and money. To gain weight, it can be pretty easy, we eat our favorite sugary or buttery foods. And, with money, we can spend very, very quickly. How is it that making money and losing weight are so difficult, yet spending money and gaining weight are sooooo easy?
Any time you’ve wondered how this person got “here,” just remember the times that you’ve gotten “somewhere” and how easy it was to fall there. It happens quickly. Student loans can engulf us, health problems, Karis Community is there to help people get back up with the support and resources that they need without judgment.
If you read the stories of community members at Karis, you’ll find that many of them have suffered with mental illness nearly their entire lives. The message that comes through story after story is fear from past trauma (“I have a very difficult time with conflict. I am still learning that conflict does not have to mean someone is going to get hurt.”) and goals toward self worth (“One thing I have to do is learn to love me, and that will take some time. Here at Karis is the best place to work on it.”)
A story from Heather, a Karis resident:
I have been suffering from mental illness since adolescence. I have attempted suicide three times and have been hospitalized five times. I have never been able to deal with my childhood abuse and work through it. My mental illness has affected every area of my life and has kept me from having a life. I want to be able to enjoy simple things, like taking a bath, or falling asleep without being afraid, or having someone hug me. I want to be able to have good friendships with people without being scared that they are going to leave me. There is so much to learn, and the process of growing is so slow. I try to give myself as much patience as I give to others. It is a daily struggle. At Karis I found hope. I found a place where people accept me as I am, care about me, and are glad to see me. It has been a home like I have never known. It took me a long time to adjust, and sometimes I feel like I am still getting adjusted. It is so foreign to live with people who are kind and respectful.
I think what I enjoy the most is the time we sit around and visit, enjoying each other’s company. It seems there is always laughter and lively discussion. And when I can’t sleep there is almost always someone else up, too.
For now, I try to focus on each day, doing the things I need to do to grow and get better, making good decisions and making the most of my time at Karis. – Heather
When all you need is encouragement.
Another awesome Karis resident story…. And this one is really, really awesome… Fred!! Fred was a Karis resident who prior to his stay was “warehoused” as he says, in a Capitol Hill boarding house for 13 years. There, he has no motivation for life because everything was done for him: cooking, cleaning, laundry, and medicating.
When he was accepted into Karis Community, he was finally able to take ownership of his life. It was everything he needed. It propelled him to even write his own book, which he now receives royalty checks for. He transitioned out of Karis and has his own studio apartment and part-time job and even a sweet romantic relationship that he describes as like “two glowing coals.” They go to church together every Sunday.
You can help people like Heather and Fred when you buy or sell a home with Conscious Real Estate.
Okay, how does a home purchase change the world?
Simple! We create large donations that help nonprofits get a big boost in their programming. With every home buy or sell, Conscious Real Estate agents take 10% of their OWN commission (yes, you spend our money), and pick a nonprofit to which that money goes.
So far, we have helped dozens of nonprofits get closer to or exceed their fundraising goals. They are always surprised and grateful for the huge check (it’s literally huge, see below!).
Conscious Real Estate Agent, Andy Robertson, presents the donation check to Karis Community, a nonprofit in Denver.
Are you looking to move? Know someone who is? Contact us to interview one of our agents to see if we might be a good fit for your needs. We are professional real estate experts with big hearts too. Get to know us!
Spotlight on a Recent Conscious Real Estate Donation to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
We are a community.
We forget that sometimes. When it comes to our Denver community, homelessness and the brink of homelessness due to rent and home prices is an everyday reality. Yet, many people pretend these issues or people don’t exist, pushing them into corners (literal corners, like Lawrence Street and Park Avenue and figurative corners, like not being able to get credit, rent a place, find a job, etc.). This is our call to open our community, minds and hearts. We’re all on the same team.
Yet, how little our homeless community is valued can be reflected in the 2018 Denver Right to Survive Initiative. It’s an incredible movement establishing basic human rights for the homeless. What whatttt?? Yes. It’s 2018, and our homeless friends and neighbors are having to establish their own ‘Bill of Rights’ because our local, national and global human rights protections are ignored so commonly for them. It’s movements like this and support of hyper-local nonprofits that can help with building up our homeless neighbors. (Psst… you can read more and support the Right to Survive Initiative here.)
Housing: necessity and luxury.
The foundation of Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs is shelter. We need a place to rest and protect ourselves from the elements. Without that support, there’s not much to build on. Local Denver shelters are crowded, many are completely full daily. The silver lining is that there are so many dedicated people, organizations and businesses that understand we are all part of the same community and want to help. Yet, it’s true… housing, especially in Denver, is a luxury.
It can be mind numbing to think about… Did you buy your home before the Denver market boom and are lapping up your property values this year? Or, are you looking to buy and have been saving for some time, concerned about the prices out there? Finally, you could be like the best friend of a Conscious Real Estate employee… renting a studio for $1700 and sharing it with your partner. These are the common scenarios in housing these days. While more affordable housing is going up and some really cool projects like the Beloved Community Village have been changing the scene, donations are needed to help more people.
And, also… check this out. This stand-up judge is currently refusing to drop a class-action suit against the city of Denver for confiscating the property of homeless people (remember those awful vides of law enforcement taking their blankets on Capitol Hill last winter in the snow?) This is the kind of positive, for-the-people government action we like to see. We’re coming together!!
How does homelessness happen?
Many of our homeless neighbors are vets coping with trauma. Many have been homeless since they were kids. One man was literally thrown from a bridge. Another was just an infant when he became homeless. Their stories show just how strong human resilience can be despite the circumstances. This inner strength is, well, awesome.
Stories of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless: Bruce
A lot of stories start out like any other.Bruce, for example, was a marine who made it big during the dot.com era. He was making six figures, was married and living a family life when everything came crashing down. The money ran out after the bubble. His wife divorced him. He lost contact with his son. He began to drink, heavily. Life spiraled out of control. His drinking left him physically disabled, having to use a cane to walk.
It wasn’t pretty and Bruce didn’t have a lot of options except to try to reverse time. And, he did. He went through programming through the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless and started college courses in Applied Science. Did we mention he got a 4.0? “Looking toward the future, Bruce says that professionally, ‘my ultimate goal is to run a nonprofit for addicted Veterans who are homeless.’ But more importantly, ‘my goal after I leave is to [continue to] build a relationship with my son.'” –Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
Stories of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless: Caden & Ria
Two toddlers, Caden & Ria, became homeless when their family was evicted from their apartment (for reasons that are not mentioned on the site, but with the prices in the Denver area, we can only imagine…). Due to this hardship, the family was not able to maintain requirements for the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) Subsidy and they stopped bringing the kids to school.
This was especially alarming as Caden tests on the autism spectrum. After learning about the circumstances, through the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless, the family learned about programming that would allow the children to continue to come to school, getting much needed nutrition and support. The family also received help on career assistance and finding a home. Through the organization, the family now is employed and living in an apartment.
Stories of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless: Jessica
Jessica went through what no mom should ever have to. She lost her three month old to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.) Devastated and still caring for her other children, a series of events led to her dismissal from work and then eviction from her home. She lived with her mother in a small mobile home, but was targeted as at-risk of losing custody of her children unless they found a more stable environment.
Through the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless, Jessica was able to go through the Family Reunification Program and helped her move into a suitable home with her children. She is also now able to regularly meet with a trauma counselor to work through the grief over the loss of her child. She plans on working in the medical field and works every day to make a better life for her children.
Dismissing people who say: “that’s too difficult.”
Ignoring the thoughts that tell you, “you can’t do this or that.”
Nonprofits like Colorado Coalition for the Homeless exist because homelessness may never be solved. Donations help give much needed funding to a nonprofit that needs staff, shelter maintenance, outreach, medical assistance, financial coaching and the many other services they offer.
“This was our first donation that ever supported people experiencing homelessness, so that’s a big deal, to me at least.” – Allison Parks, Owner & Founder, Conscious Real Estate
We have been donating to the nonprofits of our clients’ choosing for over four years now. We have no regrets about the many wonderful organizations that our clients have selected to receive donations. This is exactly why we created our business model as such – we care about all of the causes. The environment matters. Free speech matters. Veterans matter. Social justice matters. Animals matter. ALL OF IT MATTERS.
But still… four years is a long time to go without donating to a group of people who we all see on the streets every day in Denver – a group of people who are clearly in need. This donation landed an extra special place in our hearts… why shouldn’t the donations from our home sales contribute to the homeless?
From the start, Conscious Real Estate always had a socially conscious mission. Since the beginning, we have donated to scores of global, national, local and hyper-local nonprofits. We love focusing on Colorado nonprofits and this donation was especially meaningful. We genuinely hope to generate more business that allows us to continue to give back to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
Look! It’s us!
Here is Conscious Real Estate Agent, Kimberly McAleenan (center), with her client Adrienne (left), and John Mezger (right) of the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless. Let’s just say those smiles are thinking about what can be done with $854! A lot!!! Are you looking to buy or sell?Join the conscious movement and contact us to learn more.
When you buy or sell a home withConscious Real Estate, you’re able to donate a large chunk to a nonprofit of your choice. So many of our clients already make smaller monthly donations and attend the events of the organizations that they love, but this really allows our clients to give in a bigger way – using our money.
https://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/homeless.jpg10501650Allison Parkshttps://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/logo.pngAllison Parks2018-04-13 14:09:452018-05-08 01:24:12Paying it Forward: Building Up Our Homeless Neighbors
Kimberly McAleenan (left) presents the donation to the Environmental Defense Fund with her clients
The Environmental Defense Fund has been making economically sound environmental advanced and recommendations since its inception. Focusing on environmental issues in a financial angle has helped this nonprofit advance science in a way that also appeals to the fiscally-minded politicians who help shape the laws in our country.
And, at Conscious Real Estate, we know it’s about the numbers too when it comes to actionable change. That’s why we ask our clients to pick a nonprofit for us real estate agents to donate 10% of our own commission to. Yes, we get feel-good gold stars from it, but the nonprofits that we donate to get to further their education and outreach programs so that the world is a better place. That’s our goal too! Once donation at a time..
And huge thanks to Andrea and Jonathan for choosing the Environmental Defense Fund ($1600 went in a lump sum from their home sale, boom!). PS, they split between Vet Ranch and Environmental Defense Fund and yes, we love splitting between two favorite orgs!
How Does the Environmental Defense Fund Advocate for Change?
As US-based group, the Environmental Defense Fund (or “EDF”) funds projects taking on issues such as global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans, sustainable fishing, human health, climate issues and more. Current and past projects have included encouraging the clean energy industry, lowering pollution domestically and abroad,
As a nonpartisan organization, the EDF is not swayed by politics, rather they reference sound science and legal precedent in their policy making.
In fact, their wоrk оftеn reflects market-based ѕоlutіоnѕ tо еnvіrоnmеntаl problems such as energy efficient corporate investments to reduce negative impact while also reducing long-term operations overhead. The EDF is solutions-oriented, so they are always trying to balance both business and societal goods in order to least impact while putting the greatest effort toward improving the environment.
The EDF is Guided By Science (Thankfully!)
These times are interesting ones where science and research are being discarded more than ever. Supporting science is a plus in our book. And, the EDF has been called “Amеrіса’ѕ mоѕt economically lіtеrаtе grееn саmраіgnеrѕ” by The Economist. Thе оrgаnіzаtіоn wаѕ rаnkеd fіrѕt аmоng еnvіrоnmеntаl grоuрѕ іn a 2007 Fіnаnсіаl Tіmеѕ global study оf 850 buѕіnеѕѕ-nоnрrоfіt раrtnеrѕhірѕ аnd rесеіvеd a fоur-ѕtаr rаtіng frоm Charity Navigator, the іndереndеnt сhаrіtу еvаluаtоr.
Their mission is: “Guіdеd bу science аnd есоnоmісѕ, wе tackle urgеnt thrеаtѕ wіth practical ѕоlutіоnѕ.” As оnе оf the wоrld’ѕ largest еnvіrоnmеntаl organizations, the EDF has more thаn two mіllіоn mеmbеrѕ. Their global staff includes оf 700 scientists, есоnоmіѕtѕ, роlісу experts, аnd оthеr professionals. To support these worldwide efforts, over half of the EDF’s necessary operating funds from donations.
“Wе wоrk to ѕоlvе thе most critical еnvіrоnmеntаl problems facing thе planet. This hаѕ drawn uѕ tо аrеаѕ that ѕраn the bіоѕрhеrе: climate, oceans, есоѕуѕtеmѕ, аnd hеаlth. Since thеѕе tорісѕ are іntеrtwіnеd, оur solutions tаkе a multіdіѕсірlіnаrу approach. Wе work in соnсеrt with оthеr organizations — аѕ wеll as with buѕіnеѕѕ, gоvеrnmеnt, and communities — and аvоіd duрlісаtіng wоrk аlrеаdу being done еffесtіvеlу bу оthеrѕ.” – The Environmental Defense Fund
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Are You Into Science Too?
Do you feel the same way that science and the Earth should be supported? Join us in the mission of giving back by buying or selling a house with us. And, you get to pick the cause. To get started, meet one of our many talented and experienced agents.
https://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/environmental-defense-fund.jpg10501650Allison Parkshttps://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/logo.pngAllison Parks2018-01-22 00:27:392018-01-22 01:44:30In Defense of the Environment: The Environmental Defense Fund
Vet Ranch Started When A Call Came In About An Animal Who Had Been Hit By A Car
It started one day when Dr. Matt Carriker, a Texan veterinarian (just like his Dad, Dr. Lee Carriker) got a call to euthanize a stray dog that had been hit by a car. However, for this injured pup, her story would turn out quite differently. You see, Dr. Mаtt mаdе thе decision tо trу to ѕаvе hеr rather than put her to sleep. He saw a glimmer of hope and life in her eyes, and he decided to film the amazing experience. Let’s just say this sweet lab fell into the right hands that day. And from that day on, Dr. Matt has continued to film animal miracles on his channel, Vet Ranch.
Started in 2014, Dr. Matt’s gоаl іѕ to ѕрrеаd аwаrеnеѕѕ оf thе mаnу homeless аnіmаlѕ in nееd оf medical аttеntіоn (hint: there’s a lot!). Sіnсе ѕtаrtіng thе channel, Vеt Rаnсh hаѕ grоwn trеmеndоuѕlу and features all sorts of rescue stories on their site. One of the most interesting ones is this one below where Dr. Matt cares for a kitty cat that is completely flea ridden and unable to use its back legs.
Watch this incredible video and you’ll see an entire transformation before your eyes. Plus, you’ll see our amazing clients who chose Vet Ranch to donate to.
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And She Lived! Dr. Matt Decided to Go Against the Euthanasia Request and Her Story Went Viral.
So, as with all “pet projects” (see what we did there?), they run out of steam and finances and need support to continue. Generous donations make Vet Ranch possible. At Conscious Real Estate, we donate 10% of every sale to a local nonprofit (and our clients get to choose with ones). In this very special case, broker Kimberly McAleenan got to help her clients support Vet Ranch in a large lump sum donation (which will help the programming and allow for more homeless and injured animals to get life saving medical treatment.).
In most of Vet Ranch’s саѕеѕ, аn animal is рullеd from a euthanasia lіѕt bу a rеѕсuе аnd then brоught over for medical help. Onсе the animal іѕ hеаlthу, thе various rеѕсuеs ѕtер bасk in аnd help tо find a fоѕtеr or a forever hоmе (giving them a second chance at life). Additionally, all furr patients аrе spayed оr nеutеrеd, caught uр on vассіnаtіоnѕ and ѕtаrtеd оn раrаѕіtе аnd hеаrtwоrm рrеvеntаtіvеѕ before bеіng rеlеаѕеd.
Sharing is Caring. Donations Help Keep Vet Ranch Going
Vet Rаnсh іѕ dеdісаtеd tо рrоvіdіng mеdісаl treatment tо hоmеlеѕѕ animals thаt would оthеrwіѕе hаvе nо advocate. They would simply die or be put down. By ѕhаrіng thеіr іnѕріrаtіоnаl ѕtоrіеѕ, Vet Ranch brings awareness that with kindness and the donations of veterinary experts with their time and equipment, these аbuѕеd, аbаndоnеd and hоmеlеѕѕ animals can be adopted іntо lоvіng fоrеvеr hоmеѕ. Vet Ranch works сlоѕеlу wіth mаnу animal rescues and ѕhеltеrѕ tо dесrеаѕе the numbеr of аnіmаlѕ that are euthanized duе tо trеаtаblе аnd/оr curable соndіtіоnѕ.
Dr. Matt has a big heart and through his work and videos, we are able to get an inside view of what happens to injured and sick homeless animals. And, in so many of the cases on the Vet Ranch YouTube channel, they are able to walk again, see again, regrow their hair or skin, correct an ailment and otherwise live happy, healthy lives again.
At Conscious Real Estate, We Donate to a Different Nonprofit at Every Home Sale.
We are so proud to support Vet Ranch in everything they do. Seeing the realness of this cause is something that sets this nonprofit apart. You can literally see the work that they do. Definitely subscribe to their channel here, and if you love our style and are looking for a home in the Denver area, contact one of us to get the conversation started. We look forward to hearing from you.
https://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/vet-ranch.jpg10501650Allison Parkshttps://theconsciousgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/logo.pngAllison Parks2018-01-18 00:08:292018-01-18 17:59:23Conscious Real Estate Supports Vet Ranch (And Kittens!!!)
Are You Into Science Too?
