Contact: Kim McMillan
704-993-8384
kmcmillan@canopyrealtors.com

April 21, 2025  

Charlotte, N.C. — On Friday, April 25, in recognition of Fair Housing Month, more than 350 Realtors® will trade their business attire for work boots and gloves as they roll up their sleeves for the 16th annual Realtors® Care Day, a day of hands-on community service led by the Canopy Housing Foundation.

An initiative with a powerful purpose, Realtors® Care Day brings together Realtor® volunteers and community partners to perform critical — and often unaffordable — exterior home repairs and adaptive safety modifications for elderly, disabled, and vulnerable homeowners across Mecklenburg, Iredell, and Haywood Counties. 

Over the course of a single day, Realtor® teams will tackle everything from repairing steps and handrails to clearing debris, painting exteriors, and rebuilding porches across a number of sites in the Greater Charlotte area, as well as in the Western Region/Haywood County-area in the mountains.

“At its heart, Realtors® Care Day is about more than just repairs — it’s about restoring dignity, improving safety, and preserving homeownership for our neighbors in need,” said Charisma Southerland, 2025 President of Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS. “This is a visible reminder of the power of service and the value Realtors® place on community.”

Canopy’s Young Professional Network is amplifying this year’s impact by hosting Food Drives in both Mecklenburg and Haywood Counties.  Mecklenburg County’s food drive will benefit Nourish Up (formerly Loaves & Fishes/Friendship Trays) while the food drive in Haywood, will support three local nonprofits through a tri-fold donation drive:  sports equipment for children’s summer programming at the Pigeon Community Center, pet food for Friends of the Haywood County Animal Shelter, and non-perishable food for Friendship House, which continues to serve families affected by recent hurricanes.  The food drives, will also take place in tandem with home repair work, increasing the day’s reach.

Since its launch in 2009, RCD has provided much-needed assistance to more than 330 homeowners and nonprofits, generating a financial impact exceeding $1.2 million. Homeowners are identified through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity chapters, the City of Charlotte, and other housing nonprofits.  Along with community food and supply drives, this year’s project will focus on 13 home sites in Mecklenburg and Iredell County along with three home sites in Haywood County (Waynesville, NC).

“Realtors® don’t just sell homes — we help protect them,” said Southerland. “Realtors® Care Day allows us to lift up the very communities where we live and work, one repair and one relationship at a time.”

The 2025 Realtors® Care Day event is powered by more than 350 Realtor® volunteers, but also relies on a number of sponsors and the professional expertise of builders, contractors, painters, roofers, and home inspectors who partner with the Foundation to make the work Realtors® are doing safe, sound, and sustainable.

Media Coverage Opportunities:

Mecklenburg County:
Friday, April 25, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Media are invited to visit featured sites in Mecklenburg County and speak with Canopy Housing Foundation leaders, Realtor® volunteers, and nonprofit partners.
Contact:  Kim McMillan 704-993-8384

Site Locations:

• Marjorie Parker, a 47-year resident of Hidden Valley and community leader, continues to rebuild after the destruction of Hurricane Helene. Her story underscores the long road to recovery, that many even here in the Charlotte region are still dealing with.
  The Parker Home: 5131 Springview Road
• Carol Clyburn Stinson, a retired Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employee, still lives in the cherished home her mother purchased decades ago. It’s not just a house — it’s a symbol of generational stability that Realtors® will help preserve.

The Stinson Home: 3921 Bardot Drive

• Thomas and Caroline Sadler, married for 61 years, are creating a meditation garden together while navigating life on a fixed income after Thomas’ illness. With the help of volunteers, they’ll receive critical repairs that will help them safely age in place.
  The Sadler Home: 1416 Whisnant Street

About Us: Realtors® Care Day is an initiative of the Canopy Housing Foundation, an annual project which promotes safe and sustainable housing through home repairs and community revitalization efforts, engaging Realtor® professionals in direct service to those most in need.

Realtors® Care Day values the continued support of local businesses and organizations, including the support and financial logistics management of Lowe’s Home Improvement. Lowe’s has supported Realtors^® Care Day by developing a process for the organization, as well as handling management and delivery of materials to Realtors® Care Day sites.   

Event Hashtag: #RCD2025
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canopyrealtor

About Canopy Housing Foundation

Canopy Housing Foundation is the charitable arm of Canopy Realtor^® Association. The foundation is dedicated to funding, education, advocacy, and leadership programs that are focused on fair and affordable housing and workforce-housing initiatives.  The foundation serves to position and educate Realtors^® as leaders, promote homeownership, and provide funding to create housing opportunities.  For more information on Realtors^® Care Day 2024, visit:  www.canopyhousingfoundation.org/realtors-care-day/