A sampling of 32 Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Chapters in the U.S. shows that they gave approximately $328,000 in cash plus donations of food, toys and personal time to charitable organizations in 2009. The principal funding source by far is golf outings, followed by fundraisers at chapter events such as 50/50 raffles, silent auctions and casino nights at luncheon and dinner meetings as well as galas and picnics.
The vast majority of donation recipients were local health and social service agencies for both children and adults; others include Special Olympics, Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, food banks, military troops, scholarship funds and the IREM Foundation.
"We are extremely pleased to be able to document some of the extensive efforts by our membership to give back to their communities in these very tangible and meaningful ways," said IREM president O. Randall Woodbury, CPM, Woodbury Corp., Salt Lake City, UT. "This is our first effort to identify the extent of what we sensed was going on in many of the communities in which IREM has a presence around the country; it convinces us that much more is happening than has been reported to date."
IREM has been the source for education, resources, information, and membership for real estate management professionals for more than 75 years. An affiliate of the National Association of Realtors, IREM is one of the professional real estate management associations serving both the multifamily and commercial real estate sectors. With 80 U.S. chapters, 10 international chapters, and several other partnerships around the globe, IREM is an international organization that also serves as an advocate on issues affecting the real estate management industry.

To learn more about IREM and its chapter network visit www.irem.org.