Giveback Homes member Robbie Briggs (center), president and CEO of Dallas-based brokerage Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, at Giveback Homes “build day” in Dallas.
You remember our very own Blake Andrews, yes? The founder of Giveback Homes, a real estate charitable concept that gives pros a channel to donate funds to help build homes for those in need in desperate, needy parts of the world.
On his first mission trip to Nicaragua in 2011, Blake was more than moved by how the people of Nicaragua lived and where they lived — in homes you could not even call shacks. Back home in Dallas, his friends were buying homes with Viking ranges while to these folks, even a rusted-out stove was a dream. Most were living under scraps of wood and metal, or tarps. Blake was transformed. In his work for TOMS, he got these people shoes for the feet.
Now, he is working to get roofs over their heads.
Blake is a Dallas guy, son of Lana and Barry, high school sweethearts from Corpus Christi who, at the ripe ages of 28, bought a Miller beer distributorship in Corpus Christi. They started with one supplier, two brands of beer, seven employees and a 12,000-square-foot warehouse. The company sold 350,000 cases of beer that first year, and Andrews Distributing was launched. Andrews is now partnered with 31 suppliers, more than 200 brands, has 9 warehouses and employs more than 1,100. Lana and Barry also have Natalie, who is married to Mike McGuire. The Andrews are are one of the closest knit, most loving and generous families in town.
A few years ago, Blake, who now lives in Manhattan Beach, ventured out to work for TOMS Shoes where he was Special Projects Manager. He worked with another Blake, Blake Mycoskie, as in the Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS. The two actually met while playing tennis as kids right here in Dallas, then got together 19 years later on a fishing trip to Costa Rica. They were on the same boat, and instantly recognized each other’s twin names. Blake M. was the brains behind One for One, a simple giving idea which has turned into a global movement. TOMS has given over 12 million pairs of new shoes to children in need since it began the program in 2006, in more than 60 countries. Recently the company also expanded its business model to include TOMS Eyewear, now helping to save and restore sight for those in need.
Well, Blake, being a Dallas guy, thought “Real Estate”. He founded Giveback Homes in August 2013. The company gives real estate agents a channel to donate funds from commissions to help build homes for those in need. It’s a way to help “give back” and also distinguish themselves among other agents, a win-win. The$50 monthly membership fee gives agents a Giveback Homes branding. They are profiled on Giveback Homes, and may purchase a suite of marketing items such as door hangers, client thank-you letters, and more that help them educated potential clients that they are charity-oriented. Currently, there are 109 agents nationally in the network. Here in Dallas, Rogers Healy is one.
Blake was recognized at Inman Real Estate Connect last July, and last week the story of Giveback Homes ran in Inman News. Inman also ran a quick survey accompanying the post: Is broadcasting your good works good for business? Of the answers thus far, 85% have said, yes!
Have you found that broadcasting your good works is good for business?
Last spring, Blake was in Dallas recruiting brokerages. He spoke with Virginia Cook, Dave Perry-Miller, and Keller Williams. But when he got into see Robbie Briggs at Briggs-Freeman Sotheby’s, he got way more than he expected: Not only did Robbie commit to a Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Habitat House work day, he sent out a memo to every agent and helped build the house himself!
Dear office:
I want to introduce you to a very exciting organization, Give Back Homes (GBH). GBH was started by Blake Andrews of Dallas after he worked with Tom’s Shoes and brainstormed a great partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the real estate industry. I am sending you a link to learn more about this group as I have committed to a Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Habitat House work day on a home being constructed in South Dallas on June 14th. Anyone interested in joining me that Saturday is welcome…it will be so fun and rewarding.
On May 19th, Blake will be here to tell everyone about GBH and his vision. It is a program for real estate agents to partner with Habitat, in a slightly easier way to make a difference while marketing yourself as a member of this worthy cause. Go to www.givebackhomes.com to learn more.
We will host a light lunch at the office on Monday, May 19th at 12:30 and Blake will be here to present for all who are interested. There will be sign up sheets for anyone wanting to participate in the BF Habitat day.
Now Blake’s hitting the big time: Realty One Group came onboard as the first brokerage partner. Realty One Group is the sixth-largest brokerage in the U.S. by 2013 by transaction sides, has more than 5,000 agents in 50 offices focused in the Southwest region. The partnership will provide a discount to the standard monthly Giveback Homes membership fee for approximately 1,400 Realty One Group agents in Orange County, California. In coming months, the partnership will expand to other Realty One Group locations including Phoenix and Las Vegas. Clearly, Blake is on a roll!
But the question remains: We all want to do good works because it feels right to help our fellow mankind. Does advertising those good works actually help your business and help you gain clients? Let us know what you think!
