Baird & Warner, Illinois’ largest family-owned independent real estate services company, today announced its philanthropic arm, Good Will Network, in partnership with the Stephen W. and Susan M. Baird Foundation, is contributing $150,000 to the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund.
“Doing things the right way is as much a part of the Baird & Warner legacy as it is our future,” said Stephen Baird, fifth-generation president and CEO of Baird & Warner. “Since our firm’s founding 165 years ago this past weekend, we’ve always believed our fundamental job was to help people. This has taken many different forms over the years – from working with someone to buy their first home to sharing tips about the best schools in their neighborhood – but the goal has been the same, to make our clients’ lives easier. And now, more than ever, our clients and community need us.”
The Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund was launched by the Chicago Community Trust and the city of Chicago and United Way of Metro Chicago to help support nonprofit organizations across the region. Donated funds assist agencies and individuals that help ensure families can access basic needs, such as emergency food and supplies, mortgage and utility assistance, as well as direct financial assistance due to recent job loss as a result of COVID-19.
“Baird & Warner agents, loan officers and employees have always been proud to support the Chicagoland communities where we live and work,” continued Baird. “While we can’t be there physically for our neighbors in this new era of social distancing, we do still want them to know that we see them. I think now is the time for those real estate firms that can, to help support their local businesses or organizations because we’re all in this together.”
Due to the firm’s long history in Chicagoland, Baird & Warner has a vantage point about how COVID-19 might affect the housing industry that few other Chicago-area firms can share. According to Baird, the firm worked with clients through the Civil War, Great Chicago Fire, two World Wars, the Great Depression, numerous recessions and 9/11, and after each of these trying times, its team was there to see Chicagoland’s communities and people rise again – tougher and smarter than before.
“Navigating this time of uncertainty can feel daunting, but I’ve never been more confident in our industry’s collective resilience,” Baird said. “The dream of homeownership has withstood the test of time, and will continue to do so. It’s our job to keep that dream alive and within reach for everyone. We’re all in this together – and we will endure.”
Since creating The Good Will Network in 2002, Baird & Warner has donated nearly $3 million to Chicagoland nonprofits focusing on housing-related causes. In 2015, the firm expanded its efforts with a volunteer time off program to give employees more opportunity to give back in their communities. To date, approximately 2,000 volunteer time off hours have been logged by the Baird & Warner team.
Click here for more information about the Good Will Network.
About Baird & Warner Real Estate, Inc.:
Established in 1855, Baird & Warner is Illinois’ largest family-owned independent real estate services company. The Baird & Warner brand has been synonymous with making real estate easier through experience, innovation, and integrity for more than 160 years. Steve Baird, the firm’s fifth-generation owner, has been consistently recognized among the industry’s most influential leaders. In 2019, Baird & Warner was named a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace for the eighth year in a row. With nearly 2,400 broker associates in 28 offices and comprehensive mortgage, title, and relocation services, Baird & Warner ranks among the nation’s top real estate firms. Learn more at BairdWarner.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200401005802/en/
Contacts:
Rboykin@taylorjohnson.com
