Ride 4 KW Cares

Lowensky Garcia, an agent at the New York – Jackson Heights Market Center, set out in October 2011 on a  bike tour.  Lowensky’s goal is to stop at each market center along the way to spread the word about KW Cares and what it means to the culture of Keller Williams Realty. He has been well received by each market center he visits with many others wanting him to make a detour to their cities.  He has been described by his team leader, Chris Abazis as a man with such a “charitable spirit.” If you would like to track his progress please visit his Facebook page by clicking here. 

Greensheet Donations Add Up! At the Bellingham (WA) Market Center all

associates donate to KW Cares with each transaction.  The Market Center has donated more than $14,000 to KW Cares in 2010, landing it at the top of the list for market center donations!

We hope each associate in every Market Center enrolls to donate to KW Cares with each closing.  Complete this form and give it to your MCA to start the process.

You can order these hearts at houseofmagents.com.  Be sure to send us pictures of your market center's display of hearts! Get creative and be featured on our website.

In 2007 Debbie Mulidore, an agent from the Carlsbad Market Center (CA) was diagnosed with a rare autonomic dysfunction causing her heart rate to increase by 40 to 50 beats upon exertion of her muscles.  During the next few years she went on a journey across the country to consult with some of our best physicians.  At UCLA a top cardiologist said that Debbie had the most extreme case of autonomic dysfunction he had ever seen. 

At Vanderbilt Medical Center in Tennessee, Debbie was told to go home, quit her job and know that life and work would be difficult. 

“I rebelled,” said Debbie.  “I returned home, sold 4 more homes and began nursing school.”

In 2009, Debbie was advised that she needed heart surgery.  The goal was to shut off the complete natural function of her heart and make it 100% reliant on a specialized pacemaker.  This would allow the brain to no longer override what the heart should be doing.  In February 2011, Debbie had her first heart surgery. Followed by several complications, she had five more heart surgeries between February and November costing over a million dollars.  After the 5th surgery, Debbie began having severe chest pain and shortness of breath making it even more difficult for her to work.

“I reached a point of desperation, not knowing how I would keep my insurance and go through more surgery,” said Debbie. 

Just before Christmas, Debbie’s market center told her how KW Cares steps in to help in situations like hers.  KW Cares gave Debbie a grant to help with out-of-pocket medical expenses.  “Generous donations from caring agents are helping me at this very moment,” said Debbie.

Cris Travis is a very active team member at the Portland-West Market Center.  In August, 2010 Cris’ husband, Cliff, was faced with a recurrence of bone cancer.  Treatment included two extensive surgeries and replacement of 2 ½ vertebrae with plastic implants.  During this challenging time and the Travis’s welcomed their baby girl, Lana, into the world.  Unfortunately, not too long after Cris was mugged upon entering the market center early one morning.  She required hospital treatment.  Thankfully, the Travis’ have health insurance, but with Cliff’s cancer treatment and Cris’ hospital stay, out of pocket medical expenses were becoming too great to handle.  “When my wife, asked me to pull our medical records and paperwork together to submit with the grant application I was tired from treatment and not particularly positive about the potential outcome,” said Cliff.  “However, there was this glimmer of hope that something good might come of it.”  Soon after submitting the application, KW Cares gave Chris and Cliff a grant to help them move forward together.

Dina joined Keller Williams in August 2003. A capper and an ALC member, she’s always been a key member of Lee Stern’s team in Midvale (UT). One day while her family was having an outing at the nearby lake, Dina had decided to stay home and work on a short sale. She took a break from paperwork to wash some windows and fell off the 2nd story balcony, breaking her hip in several places, her pelvis, and her elbow. She was rushed to a hospital that turned her away for lack of medical insurance, however she passed out in in the parking lot due to the amount of pain and the hospital then admitted her. Dina was treated for a week and released with a huge bill that she and her husband were unable to pay. Her market center had established and grown their local emergency fund and was able to give the Abdic family $3,000 right away to help out, in addition to making meals for the family of four and visiting daily. KW Cares was able to make a grant that made a substantial dent in Dina’s bill. Now Dina’s broken bones and the family’s finances are on the road to recovery.

Marius Wells, whose wife is the MCA at the Brevard (NC) market center, is a man who lives life to its fullest.  As an active father, rock climber and general outdoorsman he does not let the fact that he has had diabetes since the age of 6 slow him down.  “I have had mostly issues with my feet,” said Marius.  “5 surgeries, and had to wear a surgical shoe or brace of some sort.”

In early 2010, Marius had three hospital stays, the last one resulting in a below the knee amputation.  Adjusting to life with a prosthetic leg has proven to be a costly challenge.  “When I came home after the amputation, my wife Melissa, had installed an assist handle in the bathroom shower,” said Marius.  “But it made the shower space too small for me to use.” 

Since Melissa works for KW Cares Board member, John Prescott, she was very familiar with KW Cares and the grant process.  KW Cares awarded a grant to the Wells’ enabling them to restructure the bathroom to accommodate Marius’s needs. “I now have a shower I feel safe to use,” said Marius.

Marius has recently been able to resume two of his favorite activities, rock climbing and bike riding.  Last September on a church campout Marius and a few others went rock climbing.  Slowly and steadily, Marius made it to the top!  Once there he encountered a child climbing who had become frightened.  Marius went across the ledge, tied the child’s rope to his harness, and slowly lowered himself and the child to safety.  He has not only met a huge personal challenge but he rescued someone in the process.