Homes for Heroes affiliate honors service people in Colorado Springs and Pueblo
719 Heroes at Sellstate Alliance Realty is a group of realtors who are Homes for Heroes Affiliates in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Their mission is to give back to those who have sacrificed to protect, educate, heal and serve their community. From helping heroes buy and sell homes to hosting events to raise and donate money to local causes, they strive to give back to those who give their all.
“Homes for Heroes is a national program that was founded shortly after 9/11 to help people in five different hero groups make home ownership a little bit more attainable and to give them a thank you for being in a hero industry,” says Carrie Lukins, co-owner of Sellstate Alliance Realty and Property Management. She works alongside Preston Smith and Jenelle Meyer.
Related: Building Independence and Elevating Lives
The five hero industries served are military, law enforcement, firefighters, healthcare professionals and educators.
719 Heroes says thank you by not only donating 0.7% of the home price from commissions on every real estate transaction but also by giving funds and raising awareness to other heroes, nonprofits, charities and organizations and creating a sense of community.
“We have helped 223 heroes and given $617,803 back to them, just in the Homes for Heroes program,” Lukins says. “We often have heroes in tears when they receive their reward because they never thought they would achieve the home ownership dream.”
719 Heroes’ giving initiatives extend beyond the Homes for Heroes program. “Whether that means another successful house closing, a $55,000 donation to 27 K-9 Officers at the Colorado Springs Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Woodland Park Police Department, Fountain Police Department, and the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife, or being an annual sponsor for organizations like Mt. Carmel, TESSA, St Jude’s Foundation, VetFest, Pikes Peak to Zero, and the COS Network,” according to their website.
“In the six years since I bought the brokerage, through 719 Heroes, the giving-back efforts of our agents and the COS Network, we’ve been able to give back about $3.75 million to our local community,” Lukins says. “I am really good at real estate and I love it, but it’s the vehicle that allows me to do my passion, which is to give back; I was born to give.”
VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE IN OUR DIGITAL EDITION
