By Rick Mauch
Candy’s Dirt Contributor
When it came time for the newly-formed Women’s Council of Realtors Fort Worth Tarrant Network to select their signature charity, this year’s president Emilie Williamson didn’t hesitate in selecting a project that helped military veterans.
Williamson is a retired Army veteran married to a retired Navy veteran. Her brother is on active duty in the Air Force, as is her cousin, and her stepdaughter served in the Navy.
“Veterans are near and dear to my heart because they are my brothers and sisters in arms,” Williamson said.
Specifically, Williamson wanted to help pair disabled veterans with much-needed service dogs. The specially-trained canines help mitigate the effects of PTSD, aid mobility and hearing complications, facilitate social reintegration, and offer comfort to veterans dealing with these challenges. However, lengthy waiting lists and the high cost of intensive mandatory training — approximately $20,000 — can pose barriers to accessing this support.
Williamson understands the impact four loving paws can have in someone’s life. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, Williamson has help every day from her service dog Zeus.
“After seeing the difference my lab, Zeus, has made in my life, I knew this would be life-changing for others,” she said. “After attending a class for the American Warrior Initiative and seeing how they gave a dog to a veteran I knew I needed to get involved to help other veterans.”
The Women’s Council of Realtors Fort Worth Tarrant set a goal to raise $20,000 to help a disabled veteran get their own service dog.
Throughout the year, Williamson and Zeus have helped raise funds by visiting locations and selling t-shirts that support the American Warrier Initiative’s Red Friday campaign.
“My dog and I visit lenders, title companies, and anyone interested in having us take pictures and sell ‘Remember Every Defender’ t-shirts,” Williamson said. “One hundred percent of shirt sales go to the cost of the dog and helping the veteran take care of the dog.”
The Dallas Wings WNBA team also helped raise funds by hosting an Inspiring Women Night. They donated a portion of ticket sales, had the Fort Worth Tarrant group’s QR code on the scoreboard for donations, and helped promote the cause.
A RED Shirt dinner and silent auction, took place Nov. 3 at the Crown of Life Lutheran School. At that event, the Women’s Council of Realtors Fort Worth Tarrant group presented a service dog to a local disabled veteran.
The Women’s Council of Realtors began its organization in 1938 and has grown with more than 250 local networks in nearly 40 states. The Fort Worth Tarrant Network was chartered in October 2022 and this was their first fundraising event.
This year’s First Vice President and incoming President-Elect Karla Johnson lauded the event and said the entire board of directors, along with the 98 members of the network, are excited to forge its legacy by giving back to the community.
“Our motto is choosing community over competition. We want to show the community we are a unit and our one goal is to give back to the community,” Johnson said. “In essence, bringing together individuals in the real estate industry can foster a collaborative environment that helps support the growth, development, and well-being of the communities they serve.”
The network aims to add more community service events for Realtors, others in the real estate industry, and the community. At back-to-school time, the group held a school supplies drive and were able to donate hundreds of school supplies to local disadvantaged school children.
Johnson added that next year they will be fundraising and bringing awareness to Childhood Type 1 Diabetes. This will include raising funds for a child to attend Camp Sweeney, a camp for children who otherwise would not be able to attend a camp away from home due to their health issues.
“Our board members pride themselves on educating our community and empowering our future real estate leaders,” Johnson said.
Williamson said she would like to see this year’s veteran service dogs project be taken up by other chapters of the Women’s Council of Realtors.
“I would love to do this event again. I plan to eventually run for president of the Women’s Council of Realtors Texas in the future and would love to get other local networks involved in this amazing program,” she said.
“This has been an incredible event to be a part of. Our veterans are so deserving of these dogs, their unconditional love, and services.”
To purchase a T-shirt, visit https://missionares.givesmart.com. Cost is $22 to honor the 22 veterans who die by suicide every day.
