In 2024, our incredible membership raised and contributed over $173,000 through various fundraising events, benefiting several worthy charity partners. These grants came from LSTAR’s Business Partners Program, sponsorships, various fundraising events, and the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, of which LSTAR is a proud supporter.
As of the end of 2024 and since 1992, LSTAR has given the following grants to these worthy organizations, totaling $1,661,454.
Beneficiary | Amount Donated Between 1992 & 2024 |
| Mission Services of London | $380,275 |
| Anova | $41,950 |
| Grace Café | $56,995 |
| Unity Project | $126,444 |
| VAWSEC | $81,698 |
| Women’s Community House | $33,883 |
| All Our Sisters Conference Bursaries | $2,000 |
| Hockey Helps the Homeless | $41,450 |
| London Affordable Housing Foundation | $43,950 |
| Y.O.U. Youth Opportunities Unlimited | $170,346 |
| Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre | $98,275 |
| London Housing Registry | $6,000 |
| Investing in Children | $59,212 |
| St. Joseph’s Hospice | $71,950 |
| London Health Sciences Foundation Adult Eating Disorders Clinic | $50,000 |
| Meals on Wheels London | $40,392 |
| Hospice of Elgin | $11,135 |
| Inn Out of the Cold Elgin | $32,950 |
| Women’s Rural Resources Centre of Strathroy and Area | $25,305 |
| St. Thomas Elgin Second Stage Housing | $22,670 |
| London Food Bank | $9,067 |
| St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank | $4,367 |
| Strathroy Food Bank | $4,367 |
| My Sister’s Place | $44,194 |
| Indwell | $75,686 |
| Humana Community Services | $18,161 |
| Wellkin Child and Youth Mental Wellness | $18,161 |
| The Imagine Build | $10,000 |
| Canadian Red Cross | $10,000 |
| Ark Aid Street Mission | $19,855 |
| Habitat For Humanity | $8,721 |
| BGC London | $8,721 |
| Y.W.C.A. St. Thomas – Elgin | $20,000 |
| London Basket Brigade | $2,273 |
| Great Cycle Challenge | $1,000 |
| London Cross Cultural Learner Centre | $5,000 |
TOTAL | $1,661,454 |
Other Activities and Partnerships Include:
- 2024 Christmas Kettle Campaign - Thursday, December 5, marked LSTAR's annual Kettle Day in support of the Salvation Army’s iconic Christmas Kettle Campaign. While we were eagerly anticipating a day filled with warmth and camaraderie, Mother Nature had other plans, delivering a winter storm that transformed the landscape—and the day itself. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the total amount brought in by LSTAR members in St. Thomas alone was $2,503.55. This figure does not include any tap donations, so the impact may be even greater. Stay tuned for final numbers, including those from London.
- BusinessCares Food Drive - In December, Members also took part in the 2024 BusinessCares Food Drive, in support of the London Food Bank, with 40 dedicated volunteers collecting food and money donations at two London stores. Volunteers amassed over 11,000 pounds of food and cash donations.
- Canadian Blood Services - LSTAR also continues to partner with the Canadian Blood Services as a Partner for Life. To join the LSTAR Team, go to blood.ca and click Join A Team.
- To raise LSTAR's profile in the local community, the Association also supports various local and national events. Below is a list of events sponsored by LSTAR:
- The UPwithART event of Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness in London
- London Home Builders Association's (LHBA) Golf Tournament
- London Home Builders Association's Awards for Creative Excellence
- London Chamber of Commerce's Golf Tournament
- The Ontario Home Builders Association's (OHBA) Southwest Housing Summit
- The 2023 St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce's Luncheon with MPs and MPPs
- The "Impact Awards 2023" of the St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce
- The 2023 Buzz Conference
- The 2023 AE Seminar of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
- The GR Pro Days of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation:
- In 2024, the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation, with the support of Ontario REALTORS®, collectively made a major impact on shelter and food insecurity in Ontario by donating $1.8 million to over 170 charitable organizations. LSTAR continued to honour its pledge to the Foundation’s Every REALTOR® Campaign in the amount of $2.00 per member per month.
The Foundation’s mission, “to enable and empower REALTORS® across Ontario to fundraise in support of shelter-related causes in the communities in which they live and work,” has met some challenges recently due to Board and Association amalgamations, disrupting their once consistent and reliable funding system. To help bridge the gap in funding, in 2025 LSTAR's Board of Directors voted to increase the amount donated per member to $3.00 per month.
LSTAR’s support of the Foundation has deep historical roots. In its earliest days, LSTAR Member Peter Whatmore chaired it. In 2014, LSTAR Past President Barb Whitney served as the Foundation’s Western Ontario Director, then 2015 President-Elect, and 2016 President. In 2019, LSTAR Member Heather Arnott was named the Foundation’s Western Ontario Director, then 2020 President-Elect, and 2021 President. Currently, LSTAR Past President and 2025 OREA Director-At-Large Randy Pawlowski, and LSTAR CEO Bill Madder, both proudly serve on the Foundation's 2025 Board of Directors.
