Show Your Support on Super Bowl Sunday

For football fans everywhere, this Sunday is THE Sunday. The game of games. The Super Bowl. Friends, families and fans will gather in front of big screens across the country, dressed to the nines in team colors and team jerseys. And they will watch every moment…the pre-game, the actual game, the commercials, and the half-time show. And if they take their eyes off of the big screens for even a second, chances are it will be to fill their plates with all of the game-day goodies have become a staple of Super Bowl parties…chili, wings, pizza, chips and dips. In fact, it seems like the second question asked when discussing the game (immediately following, “who are you cheering for”) is “what are you serving at your Super Bowl party.”

This year, as fans are preparing for their festivities and celebrations, groups of young people will be taking a different approach to gathering food by participating in the “Souper Bowl of Caring.” Armed with large soup pots, youth across the country stand in their churches and collect canned goods and cash to be donated to local food banks. The Souper Bowl of Caring administrative offices work with the groups to mobilize them in their efforts to reduce hunger and poverty, and all of the food and monies collected by the youth organizations are donated to the charities of their choice. According to the Souper Bowl of Caring website, the following Summit youth groups will be participating in 2012 drive: St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Central Presbyterian Church, and Calvary Episcopal Church.

So, whether you are cheering on the New England Patriots or our local, hometown heroes, the New York Giants, please consider sharing your game day bounty with another group of heroes…the youth of our communities that are working hard to help those less fortunate. Contact any of the local participants listed above with donations to support our community food pantries, or donate directly to www.souperbowl.org. And if you are a participating youth group that we have failed to mention, please let us know. We will share a link to your page as well.

Thank you…and GO TEAM!!!

In Remembrance of 9.11

Be Prepared–Irene’s On Her Way!

Fast on the heels of the Tuesday’s East Coast Earthquake, the Northeast is hunkering down for what might be yet another significant blow from Mother Nature. According to weather.com’s computer models, Hurricane Irene is currently blowing through the Bahamas and is now a major threat for the East Coast. The recommendation is that anyone along the coast from North Carolina through New England should be preparing for some serious weather.

The American Red Cross has provided the following Safety Checklist as a guide for Hurricane Preparedness. At Lois Schneider Realtor, we are gathering up our flashlights, batteries, water and first aid kits (just to be safe)–and maybe we’ll grab a deck of card and a few board games, just for fun!  Stay safe, stay dry, and stay prepared!

Lending A Hand

On Thursday, May 19th, Lois Schneider Realtor Sales Associates, staff members, and a few friends gathered in the company’s Kathryn Lawrence Tennant Conference Room for a little dinner, a little fellowship, and a very big payoff–all to benefit the Realtor Community Care Fund (RCCF). Through the efforts of an amazing LSR Community Outreach Committee, Lois Schneider Realtor was able to hold a very successful silent auction that resulted in $4000.00 to be donated to the RCCF.

The Realtor Community Care Fund, a subcommittee of the North Central Jersey Association of Realtors (NCJAR) Community Service Committee, was founded in 2006 by our very own Sales Associate, Judy Watson, as a way to assist members of the communities that are so near and dear to our hearts. “We live and work in these communities,” states Mrs. Watson, “and it’s the wonderful individuals and families that make our towns so very special. And as real estate professionals, it’s these great people who keep us going. When they are faced with an unforseen challenge or emergency, we want them to be able to reach out to us for some assistance. We want to lend a helping hand.” In the past, the RCCF has been there to aid those who have experienced flood, fire, or other damage to their homes.

If you have a need, or know someone who may need assistance, please reach out to an LSR Sales Associate, or any NCJAR Realtor, for information regarding the application process. Feel free to call our office at 908-277-1398, or email us at info@loisschneiderrealtor.com for more information.

*Pictured above: RCCF Auction Committee Members and LSR Sales Associates: Judy Watson, Kathy Barrett, John Robb, Debbie Chang, Pam Slaughter, Debbie Lupton, Kara Thoms, Martha McDonnell, Maren Dinsmore, and Cory Robinson.

Winning Women!

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it seems fitting that we take a moment to not only honor the most special lady in so many of our lives, but also celebrate and congratulate some lovely local ladies in and around our own communities.

 A great place to start would be with Summit’s Girls’ Night Out, held last Thursday evening, April 28th. Once again, SummitDowntown.org hosted a fun and festive social event that has become a favorite for friends looking for a little shopping, a little food, a little drink…and even a prize or two. Lois Schneider Realtor is always thrilled to be a participant in this entertaining event, and we are even more thrilled to congratulate Caroline Stack, the winner of our Tiffany Silver Key Pendant! (Shown here with LSR Sales Associate John Robb).

Next, we need to give a “shout out” to our very own Sales Associate, Ellen McNeil. On Sunday, May 1st, Ellen laced up her running shoes and took to the streets of Long Branch, NJ, completing the New Jersey Marathon. Ellen not only finished the run with a very impressive time of 4:12:17, but she also exceeded her personal goal in gathering donations for the very worthy cause of curing blood disorders. If you would like to make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), please visit Ellen’s fundraising page. Donations are being accepted through the end of May and your generosity will truly make a difference.

Looking for another way to make a difference in someone’s life, but not quite up for a marathon? Why not register for the Susan G. Komen Race for The Cure, scheduled for Sunday, May 15th. The Walk/Run will be held in the Essex County South Mountain Reservation Complex in West Orange, New Jersey, and it’s a meaningful way to honor the women (and men) that have had their lives touched by breast cancer. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation was started because of the bond of one sister to another. Sadly, Ms. Komen lost her battle with cancer, but her sister, Nancy G. Brinker, was so inspired by Komen’s care and compassion for others suffering the same disease, that she promised to do all she could to make breast cancer a thing of the past. The North Jersey Affiliate of this Foundation was started through a similar promise to a little girl who lost her mother to breast cancer. The promise is fulfilled through the amazing community efforts of annual fundraising events like the Pink Tie Ball and the Race for the Cure. Lois Schneider Realtor has always been a proud supporter of this cause, and we encourage you to come out and walk with us on the 15th. Event time, location, and registration details can be found on the North Jersey Affiliate website.

Congratulations Lois!

On Thursday evening, March 3rd, 2011, the Suburban Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an awards dinner to honor selected community members and companies who are dedicated to the service of “Tying the Community” together. Included in the stellar group of honorees is our company’s very own inspirational leader, Lois Schneider. Lois will be commemorated as Businessperson of the Year, and will be in the very good company of the Honorable Walter Long; Emergency Squad of Summit, New Providence and Berkeley Heights; Connell Companies; Sue Janazzo of the New Providence Beautification Committee; and Alan Leiber and Overlook Hospital.

Lois has always stayed true to her life-long motto: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice,” and she puts her words into action every chance she gets! Despite the depressed real estate markets we’ve seen in the last three years, Lois continued to make it the highest priority to make donations to The Other Fellow First Foundation, Summit Public Art, Colonial Crossroads Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Family Promise, The Visual Arts Center, Summit Supports Our Troops, Overlook Hospital, Summit Area Public Foundation, and so many other community organizations. Her philanthropy certainly embraces this year’s theme of “Tying the Community Together.”

From all of the Sales Associates and Support Staff at Lois Schneider Realtor…we congratulate you Lois. Your commitment to our communities is an inspiration to us all and we are honored to be in the company of such a special woman.

Annual Day of Service

If your New Year’s Resolutions for 2011 include serving your community, then  January 17th is your lucky day! Summit”s 13th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, a collaborative community effort led by Shaping Summit Together, will be held on Monday between 9 am and 9:30 pm. Participating organizations will feature a full day of free events, projects and activities suitable for all age groups, with the  focus on celebrating the spirit and ideals of Dr. King.

During the week of January 10th, donations of materials will be accepted at various locations throughout the City of Summit. For a complete list of community sponsors in need of items and volunteers, please visit the Shaping Summit Together website, or click here.  A schedule of the day’s events, along with information on financial contributions can also be downloaded through the  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service link available on www.ShapingSummitTogether.org.

At Lois Schneider Realtor, we take great pride in being part of a community where volunteers and donors continuously work  to better the lives of others. What better way to start the New Year than to stand side-by-side with our neighbors, working together to improve the towns we love to call home. In 2011, Lois Schneider Realtor continues to stand by our commitment to provide our clients and neighbors with the best, and most accurate, local real estate and community information. And remember, if Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a day off for you, consider volunteering your time and talent along with local residents, merchants and organizations  in a celebration of community unity!