Keller Williams takes a day in May to help those in need

Beyond global day of service are events throughout year.

Celebrations reinforce something good and important to us. They bring people together for a common cause.

Every second Thursday in May since 2009, agents, members and associates worldwide from Keller Williams Realty have slipped on their red KW T-shirts to give back to their local communities.

“It’s known as RED Day and held in May because it is Mo Anderson’s birthday. Mo, the vice chairman, is just huge on giving back,” said Christi Key, CEO of The Key Group.

The day embodies the real estate’s goals of “renew, ener- gize, donate.”

“It’s really just saying that we want everybody. We want all hands on deck to give to their community. Every office chooses who they want to support and what they want to do,” she said. “It’s some- thing different every year.”

This year Roswell’s North Fulton Community Charities was selected as the local group to serve. Promoting the upcoming event, the KW North Atlanta office collected donations from mid-April through RED Day.

Over 500 agents from the Alpharetta office recently formed an assembly line put- ting together hundreds of brand new backpacks full of requested supplies for ele- mentary (fun and cheerful) and middle school (nondescript cool) kids.

“I think NFCC is collecting backpacks through July, so I think we gave them a lit- tle head start,” Key noted.

“You’re renewing, energizing and donating for yourselves and others at the same time. That kind of thing gives you a lift, and there is nothing that feels better than giving,” the former elementary school teacher said. “You learn that you get more out of giving because you could and you did.”

Two years in with Keller Williams, Key said, “their culture is absolutely amazing. They are very big on God, family, then business. They really do walk the walk. They don’t just talk the talk.

“... Giving back and caring is not always the lead theme in business. Sometimes it takes a back seat. This is something we very much do and front of mind.”

Beyond the annual global day of service, there are events throughout the year and contributing to nonprofits.

“Our team helps support the Center for Children and Young Adults, a foster home for kids 12-18 in Marietta.”

“It’s kind of hard to find homes for that aged kid,” she added.

“It’s officewide,” the CEO noted. “A way to give back to our sphere. It’s always, ‘What can we do next?’”

COURTESY On RED Day, celebrated by Keller Williams every May since 2009, one of Christi Key’s team members, Loveleen Guglani, sports a Wonder Woman backpack full of supplies for a middle schooler. Associates in the Alpharetta office put together hundreds of backpacks.