Community Spotlight: Elite Preferred Realty Donates Backpacks to Girls Inc.

LAKEWOOD RANCH – The staff and Realtors of Elite Preferred Realty of Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch have joined together to supply some of the children at Girls Inc. with backpacks for their school year.

With today’s economic environment, it is difficult for most families to find the extra money to buy and fill the backpacks with the requested items. The average person does not realize how much it costs to purchase all the items that teachers are asking each student to have available to first day of school. Recognizing the problem, staff, sales associates and their families rallied to the cause and donated money to fill the backpacks with the basic school requests.

“Our staff felt it is important for each child to not feel left out when school starts or embarrassed because the family financial situation will not allow them to purchase the necessary materials to get off to a good start for the school year,” said Kelly Oakes, a property management associate with the company.

Kelly Oakes and Janice Litke headed up the program for Elite Preferred Realty, assisting in shopping for the needed items and making certain each backpack had all the necessary supplies.

Helen Sosso, CEO for Elite Preferred Realty commented that “Although there are many great charitable organizations, we selected Girls Inc. because of the outstanding job they do in supporting the development of leadership skills. Over the past years, Girls Inc. had successfully contributed to the formation of some quality women who are now instrumental in giving back to the community. In short, we like the job they do with children and the success rate they have.”

Girls who attend Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County are exposed to life-changing education about entrepreneurship, technology, finances, engineering and science through national Girls Inc. curriculum and the MicroSociety program. Eighty percent of those who participate move on to attend higher education and have successful careers. Their motto is “Inspiring all girls to be Strong, Smart and Bold.” For more information contact Girls Inc., 201 S Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL  34237 (941-366-6646).

Elite Preferred Realty is a residential real estate firm with over 40 sales associates providing professional real estate services throughout the area with offices located in Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota. The company specializes in new home and residential sales as well as property management, rentals and worldwide relocation services. They can be reached at 941-907-2000.

For more information about the firm, visit www.ElitePreferredRealty.com.