HOLLAND — Maintaining a successful real estate operation while nurturing a burgeoning nonprofit and tackling the challenges of foster parenting might seem overwhelming to the average bear — but local Lisa Hoeve and her husband, Kevin, make a great team.
Hoeve credited that teamwork when asked about her recent selection as one of 10 finalists for the National Association of Realtors’ Good Neighbor Awards. The award honors agents who make “an extraordinary difference in their communities through volunteer work.”
More:Nonprofit founder given award by Holland DAR group
In Hoeve’s case, that volunteer work happens at a nonprofit she founded herself: Hope Pkgs (Packages). The idea for the organization came after Hoeve and her husband transitioned two young boys they’d fostered into an adopted family.
“We knew there were a lot of needs that kids have when they come into care,” Hoeve said. “We had this idea for ‘first night’ bags, because a lot of times kids will go to a foster home and they don’t have anything or they have things in a garbage bag.
“It pushed me to change that, and figure out the process. We put together a few ideas and presented them to friends and family online and it exploded.”
From that idea, Hope Pkgs was born in 2016.
“Since then, we’ve actually served over 5,000 kids in Michigan, so it’s really been a huge, growing nonprofit,” Hoeve said. “We thought we’d support one agency we were currently licensed with, and the goal was to reach 70 kids a year, but that’s changed to more than 800 kids a year.”
The bags come with essentials like pajamas, sock, underwear, toiletries, throw blankets, diapers and wipes. Packages are pre-assembled and on-hand for organizations that need them.
“I think we’re partnered with more than 35 (organizations) now,” Hoeve said. “We just made a big delivery to the UP two weeks ago.”
Hoeve’s dedication is what captured the attention of the National Association of Realtors.
“Lisa has gone above and beyond to help build stronger communities and improve the lives of people across this country,” said NAR President Leslie Rouda Smith. “Her determination and selfless commitment embody everything that we strive for as Realtors and as compassionate members of our community. I’m proud of Lisa and the rest of this year’s Good Neighbor Award finalists for devoting hundreds of hours of their personal time to these important causes.”
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Five winners will receive a $10,000 grant and national media exposure for their charity, including a feature in the fall issue of Realtor Magazine. Five honorable mentions will receive $2,500 grants — meaning Hoeve is guaranteed at least that much for Hope Pkgs.
“It’s been a great surprise,” Hoeve said. “It’s been a really cool journey already.”
Hoeve plans to use the money to broaden the variety of packages, making it possible to have options for all genders and ages on-hand at all times.
“It doesn’t feel sometimes like we have as many bags for teens,” she said. “The money will help with rent and utilities at our facility, but I’d also really love to see more items for our older kids, particularly with haircare and items for different types of textured hair, because those things are more expensive.”
While judges determine the winners, the public can help their favorite candidate win additional funding for their nonprofit. The top three vote-getters will be recognized as Web Choice Favorites, with the winner taking home $2,500 and the second and third place finishers receiving $1,250. Vote online at realtor.com/goodneighbor until Monday, Oct. 3. Winners, from judges and votes, will be announced Thursday, Oct. 6.
Learn more about Hope Pkgs at hopepkgs.org.
— Contact reporter Cassandra Lybrink at
ca***************@ho*************.com
. Follow her on Instagram@BizHolland.
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