Highlighting CRSs who’ve gone above and beyond to assist their communities hit by devastating disasters
By Amelia Garza
CRS designees are not just the best real estate agents in the industry, they are also pillars of their communities.
This year, we are highlighting CRS designees who helped their communities bounce back when unexpected disasters struck, and how the extended CRS family was there for them when they needed support the most.
Winner — Lisa Paffrath, CRS
Lisa Paffrath, CRS, is a broker/owner at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Grand View North in Flagstaff, Arizona. Her community, known for its beautiful mountains and ponderosa pine forests, is now in recovery after experiencing two forest fires this past spring, followed by a summer of floods because of monsoon rains.
Having had a drier than normal winter, residents of Flagstaff feared that the harsh winds they were experiencing in the months of April through June would have severe effects.
“We all knew that all it would take was one spark [to cause a] catastrophe,” reflects Paffrath. “In the 20 years I have lived here, this was the first time seeing the loss of homes from a forest fire.”
The first fire, caused by intense winds, started on April 7 and burned for three days. The second fire was two months later, on June 12, and caused by an ember from a bonfire. The fires engulfed over 45,000 acres of land and consumed 33 homes and structures. Animals ranging from dogs and cats to horses and alpacas were displaced.
As an active volunteer in the real estate community, Paffrath immediately reached out to all her contacts to see what services could be provided to those in need.
Paffrath is grateful for the connections she’s gained through her involvement in RRC and appreciates being surrounded by agents who share similar values. “It’s just this amazing network of people who have that same kind of heart and mind that you do, [which is] to do whatever you can to help the community.
“I was aware of the relief funds available to our [real estate] community through the REALTOR® Relief Foundation,” says Paffrath. “I advised our local REALTOR® association and provided materials and resources to put in for these funds, which the association was successful in obtaining.”
She also started a local fundraiser to assist Flagstaff’s local humane society volunteers who had taken in all the animals displaced by the fires. In less than two days, the fundraiser garnered $1,800 in donations, which she matched. The support she received from her past clients and fellow CRS family was instantaneous.
“It was as easy as going on Facebook,” says Paffrath. “Within 10 minutes, I had raised $800. Hearts are good as gold, and I’ve been really lucky. A lot of my clients have been clients for life; their hearts are just amazing. I had friends in Phoenix that offered places down there and travel trailers for people to come if they had to. The community here really does come to bat when we have anything like this [happen].”
Paffrath also got her hands dirty to fill sandbags that were desperately needed to protect residents’ homes, as fires will remain an issue in this community for years to come. Her final mission was reaching out to her state association to add wildfirerisk.org to their Buyer’s Advisory and Seller’s Disclosure to prepare future residents of the potential risks associated with living in Flagstaff.
“This event made us realize that we’re not invincible up here,” says Paffrath. “We know any natural disaster is destructive, but when you actually see it happen in your backyard, it makes you realize that you really can’t take for granted what we have here. And it really makes me want to do more.”
Runners Up — Angi Cline, CRS, and Mike Inman, CRS
On December 10, 2021, western Kentucky was struck by a series of tornadoes, including one string of storms that stretched from Tennessee to southern Indiana (possibly the longest in history). Nine communities were hit, particularly the cities of Mayfield, Benton, Princeton, Dawson Springs and Bowling Green.
Angi Cline, CRS, is a resident of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and recalls the night in harrowing detail.
“Late that night, reports started coming in. The far western part of our state was under fire,” says Cline, a sales agent at Berkshire Hathaway HomeService. “Tornadoes on the ground staying for long periods of time, towns being ripped through, homes, buildings and huge factories being destroyed. We knew it was heading our way, but there was little time to prepare. In the dark of the night, you can’t see what’s coming. You simply have to brace for it.”
About 155 miles away in Lexington, Kentucky, was 2022 President of Kentucky REALTORS® Association Mike Inman, CRS, a sales agent at Coldwell Banker McMahan Co. As the incoming president at the time, Inman and the rest of his association immediately sprang to action.
His association organized numerous relief efforts from boards across the state and collected supplies donated by their local members and members of neighboring states. In the greatest act of generosity, REALTORS® from Florida and New Jersey drove to Kentucky to drop off supplies for those in need.
“The fact that I had just completed NAR’s Leadership Academy helped immensely as it gave me access to REALTORS® in a number of states,” says Inman. He helped receive these donated items and assisted volunteers and staff in loading trucks for the trip to western Kentucky.
For Inman, this experience highlighted how important it is to be involved. “You’ve just got to know people in your community, if you’re going to be able to pitch in and help. Otherwise, you’re going to spend days that can’t be afforded figuring out how to help.”
Back in Bowling Green, Cline was equally blown away by the gratitude she was receiving from her extended CRS family.
“My husband and I attend all the CRS meetings and we’re very involved with RRC. Those were the friends that reached out first to see what they could do,” says Cline. “Just to know that we had support from across the nation and that they were concerned about [our community] … it means so much.”
While Inman was receiving goods and supplies, the Kentucky REALTORS® staff submitted a request to NAR for a grant to assist in paying for temporary lodging and mortgages for those displaced by the tornadoes. The request was quickly accepted, and Kentucky received the largest grant in NAR REALTORS® Relief Foundation history—$1.5 million. As of September 2022, they have received nearly 400 applications for relief.
“To date, we have given over $630,000 to assist families in need in Kentucky,” says Cline. “Our state association has worked tirelessly to form a 501(c)(3) for a relief fund for future disasters for ourselves and possible assistance across our nation should that opportunity arise.”
It’s been nearly a year since these unexpected tornadoes struck. According to both Cline and Inman, communities are still recovering, and many were changed forever.
Although nothing can undo the damage and pain felt from these disasters, Cline is grateful for how her REALTOR® and CRS families pulled together in times of crisis.
“[This experience shows] how strong we are, the bond we have and the power that we possess to do good things in this world.”
For more ways to get involved in the REALTOR® community, visit NAR.realtor/outreach.
Photo: Daniel Snyder
