Do you know someone who is making a difference in our community?
By Patricia Nugent
Not all superheroes wear capes.
We all know someone who selflessly serves the community, whether through volunteering, charity work, or other forms of service like organizing events, mentoring youth, helping the elderly, or supporting those in need. Their actions inspire others and create a ripple effect of kindness to the overall well-being of the community.
Denise and Mark Zervos, founders of The Neighborhood Experts at Platinum Real Estate, are launching the Platinum Hero of the Year Award to honor these generous folks.
“Heroes walk among us and look for zero recognition in return,” she says. “We are looking to honor those men or women who help and inspire others, paying it forward and making a difference in our community.”
After a panel of judges reviews all the nominations sent online by Tuesday, June 25, and selects the Hero of the Year, he or she will be announced on social media and—spoiler alert—you’ll read all about who it is in the July issue of Mimi magazine, coming out on Friday, July 19.
“There seems to be so much negativity nowadays, especially with the election coming up in the fall and the vitriolic political climate,” she adds. “I hope this sends a message that we’re stronger than that and we’re better than that. We’re making a choice to flip the script and focus instead on positivity. I happen to feel that people in Northeast Ohio are pretty amazing and cannot wait to receive the nominations.”
Honoring Local Heroes All Year Long
The new Hero of the Year Award is a nice complement to the Heroes Program Denise and Mark kicked off 10 years ago to honor local heroes and thank them for their service by offering cash rebates. Today, the program has grown to include police officers, firefighters, EMTs, active and retired military personnel, educators, doctors, nurses and healthcare workers and their families when buying or selling their home through Platinum Real Estate.
“These deserving people are out there on the front lines every day and we owe them a debt of gratitude,” says Denise. “We’ve always believed in the power of taking care of the people who so tirelessly take care of others. These folks are truly unsung heroes, out there every day. We owe them a debt of gratitude.”
Each applicant can receive up to a $1,000 rebate. According to the local agents who oversee the program, over the last several years the company has given away more than $30,240.
The program is ongoing, and there are no cutoffs, deadlines or lengthy applications.
What’s the Current Market Doing?
Not a lot has changed in the market the past few months. Denise says that heading into summer, we’re still looking at a sellers’ market with stabilizing interest rates and a low number of homes for sale.
“Sellers still need to be careful about their pricing strategy,” she says. “Even in a hot market, you need a professional to help guide you to just-right pricing, taking into account many factors to come up with a number that will attract the best-fit buyer.”
Platinum Real Estate has offices in Ohio, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. To get more information, call 216-990-2100 or 440-974-SALE or visit NeighborhoodExperts.com. To find out more about and apply for the Heroes Program, go to PlatinumHeroes.com.