Fort Walton Beach Golf Course and Clubhouse Grill recently saw some friendly competition as ERA American Real Estate held its first annual “Giving Games” event, bringing together agents from across Northwest Florida for a day of camaraderie and charitable giving. 

• With teams competing in various games such as cornhole, karaoke, putting, and adult-size Connect4, the goal was to have fun while also competing for $1,000 to go toward the winning team’s chosen local non-profit organization.

ERA American does several social events throughout the year to bring all of their agents together in a social environment rather than at the office since they have 5 offices across Northwest Florida.

Even though they have opportunities to see each other monthly during their company meetings, this gives them a chance to get outside the office a few times a year.

The winning team, aptly named “Team Without A Title,” chose PAWS (Panhandle Animal Welfare Society) as their charity of choice, taking home $1,000 for the organization. 

• Team members included Realtors Karen Whyte, Wayne Myshin, Nance Wendel, Don Hamrick, Brian Lingerfelt, Agent Services Coordinator Heather Richardson, and ERA American’s Identity and Branding Specialist Jonelle Lewis.

When asked about the secret to their success, Karen Whyte, Realtor, shared, “Winning at an ERA American event takes strategy and skill.”

• “Okay, to be honest, we secured a world renowned opera singer (Realtor Don Hamrick) for karaoke,” she laughed. “We all love our dogs, so donating to the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society was an easy choice!”

In a true display of generosity and community spirit, Team Rentatonix, comprised of ERA American rental department team members and Crestview office sales agents, also pooled funds to donate an additional $1,000 to Matrix COC in Defuniak Springs.

“We are a competitive bunch, who are just as passionate about making our communities better for everyone,” said Linde Bowman. “Our get-togethers are an opportunity to laugh, connect, give back to the community, and to have some friendly competition within our team.”

• Echoing this sentiment, Tony Lombardo, CEO & Broker, added, “Connecting on a personal level is an important part of our company’s success. It’s at these events where coworkers become family.”

With such a successful first year, the ERA American Real Estate “Giving Games” is poised to become an annual tradition, continuing to bring colleagues together and support the Northwest Florida community for years to come.