Elliman Cares: How Agents Are Giving Back This Holiday Season

By Grace Cassidy In the spirit of the holiday season, Douglas Elliman agents from California and Texas to Florida and New York are dedicating their time and energy to help those in need and strengthen their communities. Here’s a round-up of all the ways our agents are giving back—and how you can join in! California Heather T. Roy and Learka Bosnak of Beverly Hills-based team Heather & Learka have been hosting an annual Holiday Party Toy Drive for friends, family and clients for over 15 years. Bagging up the donated toys. Los Angeles Fire Department Platoon Captain Bastman thanks party attendees for their donations. Heather & Learka test-drive the bikes they donated. “We all have fun, eat treats and spend time together while the pile of toys grows and grows,” said Bosnak. “Then the firefighters from LAFD Station #27 in Hollywood come by to pick up the toys, take pictures, and let the kids explore their fire trucks. It’s a great way for kids to learn about giving to others and for us all to stay connected to the first responders in our community. We love it! The toys go to children in need during the holidays and throughout the year. This year the party was right next door to Station #27 at the LAFD Museum and Memorial. Everyone loved seeing the amazing collection. Can’t wait for next year!” Monrovia, Calif.-based agent Donna Baker is in the midst of her 3rd Annual Holiday Artwork Bike Giveaway for in Monrovia between ages five and 12. “I publicize it on Facebook, on both my personal page and the local Monrovia Daily News page, which has over 15,000 followers,” Baker said. “Kids have to submit a holiday drawing or artwork, and then I have someone help me judge all the entries to choose 10 winners. The first year I had promised to give away five bikes, but the local Boys & Girls Club submitted a bunch of entries, so I increased it to eight.  Last year, I increased the number to ten.” Today is the deadline for entries, so Baker will be picking the winners and giving them their bikes next week. Elliman agent Donna Baker with the winners of her 2022 Holiday Artwork Bike Giveaway. “I partner with the local bike shop owner, who gives me a good price since I’m buying so many at once,” she said. “He is always thrilled to be included in this effort.” Texas Shephali Perkins Houston-based Shephali Perkins is encouraging local Elliman agents and staff to donate and wrap gifts for Child Advocates , an organization that works on behalf of children who have been removed from their homes and placed in protective services. For its Santa’s Wish List project, court-appointed advocates work with kids to prepare their wish lists, so individuals and corporate sponsors can then shop for them and make their wishes come true. Individual gifts can also be dropped off at the toy drive for kids who have a sponsor. Volunteers wrap gifts and help assemble bikes and playsets so that the toys can be ready for the kids right when they receive them. “We always need items for teenagers who are often overlooked when it comes to ‘toy’ drives,” said Perkins, who has been a Child Advocates volunteer since 1999. “We do all of this in donated warehouse space over the course of nine days and try to make sure that our kids experience some joy during the holidays. It is so hard to be away from home and loved ones, so imagine when home isn’t a safe place or you are too young to fully understand why you can’t be there when that is all you want.” The Houston office also hosted a cookie contest to encourage more agents to come by and drop off a toy. Children at Boca Raton's Fuller Center, which provides support services for under-resourced children and families. Florida Vanessa Sidi Boca Raton-based agent Vanessa Sidi hosts an annual Toys for Tots drive. “I started doing it with the Florida Panthers, and I’m currently getting boxes to the Boca Raton and Delray Beach offices so they can participate,” Sidi said. “We did this last year, and it was super.” The offices will be accepting toys through [INSERT DATE] Also located in the Boca Raton office, Senada Adžem works to raise money for the Fuller Center ’s annual holiday gala. Operating for more than 50 years, the Fuller Center aims to educate and empower hardworking, under-resourced families and children to help them reach their full potential. Serving more than 900 children each year, as well as 600 of their family members, the Fuller Center reaches more than 40 zip codes throughout Palm Beach County and North Broward County. Senada Adžem “Dedicating myself to philanthropy has been a profound and integral aspect of my life, and focusing these efforts on the local children and families of Boca Raton is a compelling motivation to uplift lives within our community,” said Adžem, who cited her own experience of growing up in war-torn Bosnia as a source of inspiration. “This journey culminated in a transformative experience—a scholarship that provided me with the opportunity to attend Graceland University in the United States of America. Prioritizing investment in the education of our children is essential, as they embody the future. Education serves as an empowering force, equipping children with the essential tools to achieve their dreams and, in turn, contribute to the well-being of our society.” In the Delray Beach office, Dana Ocampo and Mandy Bohlman of D+M Palm Beach both sit on the Advisory Board for the Boys & Girls Club of Boca Raton . “We just held our 5th annual Securing Our Future Soiree fundraiser at the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club in Boca Raton and had a record-breaking year,” Ocampo said—over $374,000 to help fund the non-profit’s hunger relief initiatives and operations. Dana Ocampo and Mandy Bohlman “Our personal journey into charitable work stems from the belief in the power of community and the potential for positive change through targeted initiatives. The joy and fulfillment derived from contributing to the betterment of children’s lives motivates us to actively support the organization.  We are confident that our collective efforts will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children in our community and create a positive impact and brighter future for the next generation.” Up north, in St. Petersburg, the DMK Group has partnered with Dissent Craft Brewing Company to host a Holiday Toy Drive on December 16, to benefit R’Club Child Care Inc. Donors can bring a new, unwrapped toy and receive a complimentary beer. If you can’t make it on the 16th, you can still contribute by dropping off your toy before the event. The Hamptons, N.Y. Susan Hovdesven Brianna Ottati Elliman agents Susan Hovdesven (Southampton) and Brianna Ottati (Sag Harbor) both serve on the board of the not-for-profit Southampton Day Care Center , which provides low-cost day care services for low-income families. Four years ago, they decided to start a toy drive to benefit the kids attending the day care and reached out to their Elliman network for donations. An Amazon wish list with curated gifts for each child makes it easy for those looking to get involved. Ottati organizes and delivers the toys to the children herself. “Now in its fifth year, the toy drive has grown into something truly special,” she said. “Agents from Westhampton Beach to Montauk get excited about it and start reaching out early in the season to plan.” Terry Thompson In Southampton, agent Terry Thompson gets involved by helping wherever she can. “I enjoy working with our local organizations and schools to bring the holidays home,” she said. “I often work with Hamptons Community Outreach, Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church and the wonderful social workers in our schools who organize ‘Santa’s Wish Lists’ so each child receives exactly what they need.” According to Thompson, most kids wish for simple, everyday items such as coats, hoodies, sweatpants and sneakers. With help of a few elves, she heads to big box stores and grabs whatever is needed. “It is so rewarding and fun.” Long Island, N.Y. Douglas Elliman agents in offices across Long Island are spearheading numerous charitable initiatives, including: The Rockville Centre office, managed by Donna Einemann O’Reilly, holds a Holiday Art Auction with HUE Art Studios, which began on Thanksgiving and runs until Wednesday, December 20th. It will benefit charities in support of pediatric cancer. The Long Beach office, managed by Carolyn Argento, donates food to the Long Beach Soup Kitchen for Thanksgiving and toys to the MLK Community Center in Long Beach for Christmas and Hanukkah. The Port Washington office, managed by Eileen O’Sullivan, participates in the Local Chamber of Commerce Toy Drive and the Our Lady of Fatima Adopt-a-Family-for-Christmas initiative. And agent Maggie Keats is supporting local Port charities in her hometown, including the Ed Foundation, Plant a Row for the Hungry, The Community Chest, The Parent Resource Center, the Art Guild and the Port Washington Public Library. “These organizations work tirelessly to improve the quality of life in our community,” Keats said. The Huntington office, managed by Kelley Taylor, collected Thanksgiving meals for 100 families! The Massapequa office, managed by Barbara Schultis, holds a community pajama and book drive for children in need during the December holidays. The New Hyde Park office, managed by Christopher Bacchus, participates in a toy drive for the Hance Family Foundation , a local foundation honoring the lives of Emma, Alyson and Katie Hance, by providing scholarships and unique self-esteem programs worldwide. Offices in Manhasset, Central Nassau, East Setauket, Roslyn, Sea Cliff and Syosset all participate in Toys for Tots collections. The Bayside and Franklin Square offices, managed by Helena Veloso, collect to feed ten families per holiday (Thanksgiving and HanukkahChristmas – five families in each office). Offices in Babylon East Islip, Sayville and Huntington also participate. New York City New York City-based agent McKenzie Ryan runs an annual coat drive at the 575 Madison Avenue office on behalf of New York Cares, which is in its 35th year of collecting coats for New Yorkers in need of warmth. “It’s an important cause to me, as small acts of care and kindness let our fellow New Yorkers know that they are not forgotten, and someone out there cares about them,” said Ryan, adding: “We are still collecting until next Friday (December 22nd)! The bin is on the 3rd floor reception, or I can come pick up coats from anyone’s home.” Mary Anne Fusco Looking ahead to the New Year, New York City- and Long Island-based Elliman agent Mary Anne Fusco will host her 25th annual coat drive in January of 2024. “It all started about 24 years ago when a young man of 17 delivered lunch to me and my staff in the freezing January cold on a bike in New York City in short sleeves,” Fusco recalled. “Here we were, getting warm soup and sandwiches delivered to us, and this boy was freezing. I snapped. I turned to my staff and said, ‘That’s it! We are doing a coat drive!’” The first drive collected fewer than 100 coats, but the last several years’ have garnered around 1,000, which go to recipients at the St. Francis Food Pantry and Shelters throughout the five boroughs. This year, Fusco plans to send some of the collected coats to a Long Island location. The drive starts after the New Year and runs through the end of March.