POINT OF VIEW: Mansell Report

Generosity defined

In Theravada Buddhism, the predominant religion of continental Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka, there are many suttas, or discourses, on the topic of generosity. One passage, translated from the original Pali language by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, says, “A person of integrity gives a gift in season.” To me, that means giving a gift at just the time it is needed—a warm coat before the onset of cold, for example, or an infant toy to the parents of a newborn.

I can’t think of a better example of giving in season than the more than $1.4 million REALTORS®, REALTOR® organizations, and friends have contributed to aid in the rebuilding of Asian villages destroyed by the Dec. 26 tsunami.

On Jan. 18, with more than $200,000 already donated to the REALTORS® Tsunami Relief Project , the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Inter-national, specifying that 100 percent of the project’s funds would go toward Habitat’s rebuilding efforts. With housing so central to our mission, we determined our money should be directed not at short-term needs, which were already being met by various aid agencies, but at the long-term shelter needs of tsunami victims.

At that time, we set what I thought was an ambitious goal—$1 million—and I was prepared to make numerous appeals to our members to get us there. In the end, I made only one formal appeal—via e-mail to about 600,000 members registered at NAR’s REALTOR.org Web site. Separately, our Executive Vice President and CEO Terry McDermott sent an appeal to association executives and MLSs. In less than three weeks, we’d surpassed $1 million, and members and associations were continuing to call and write to us about planned fundraisers.

I know 2004 was a robust year for the real estate industry. But I’m also aware of the personal financial commitments that each of us has. And I’m proud of the way you reached deep to make a difference for communities halfway around the world.

One emotion I’m not feeling is surprise. The generosity of our membership was well documented before the tsunami. Last year you rallied on behalf of colleagues affected by hurricanes in the South-eastern United States. Four years ago, you helped ensure that survivors of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks didn’t lose their home as a result of losing a breadwinner in their family.

You gave then and you give now without asking anything in return, a true mark of generosity. But to provide you with an accounting of how your money will be used, REALTOR® Magazine this month includes a special three-page section on the REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project . The section names our largest donors—but I want to assure you that no matter the size of your donation, your dollars have made a difference. As you’ll see from the article, Habitat is identifying sites—and rebuilding is already underway. It’s gratifying to see the direct and immediate benefit of our fund-raising effort.

The sutta I mentioned earlier goes on to say, “A person of integrity gives a gift with an empathetic heart.” That you’ve done again and again, and—from the bottom of my heart—I thank you.

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