Laura-Leah Shaw
2002 REALTORS® CARE AWARD
RE/MAX MEDALLION CLUB MEMBER
RE/MAX PLATINUM CLUB
RE/MAX HALL OF FAME AWARD
Below is an article from the REALTORLINK newsletter dated June 27, 2008:
Having a successful and demanding career while heading a household can be time consuming enough, but add in thousands of vounteer hours and you begin to wonder how someone could acomplish this without becoming sleep-deprived.
REALTOR®Laura-Leah Shaw makes it work. She has been involved with charities for most of her life and spends a lot of her free time bettering the world around her. She helps the homeless, animals, the environment, and those working for basic human rights.
"I contribute to charity because I can," says Shaw. "I feel very fortunate that I can work and provide for my family. I want to share my good fortune with others."
Shaw contributes time and money to charities like the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, YWCA's Crabtree Corner, Vancouver Persons with Aids, the Living Room, Home Start, Dress for Success, and Earthsave Canada, Amnesty International, and more.
Most of her time is spent collecting and distributing goods such as food, clothing, blankets and household items. Shaw also collects and distributes fresh food to the soup kitchens and the homeless of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. SO far this year, she has arranged for the distribution of more than 135 boxes of fresh fruit and veggies donated by Choices Market.
"I see people sleeping in the strees and I believe that if we each work toward finding a solution, we would greatly reduce the number of those in need," said Shaw. "That's why I do what I do."
Shaw also provides financial support for animal charities like the Vancouver Humane Society, Wildlife Rescue and others. Each month, she sponsors a pet adoption ad in the Georgia Straight. Within her profession, she sits on the REALTORS® Care Task Force, a group of member representatives who help guide the Board's charitable initiatives, and is a coordinator for the REALTORS®Care Blanket Drive.
"My greatest motivation to give comes from there being a need. If I make a difference in someone or something's life, forme, that's a good thing."