Dear SIOR Members and Friends,
It is an honor and a privilege to begin my term as the president of the SIOR Foundation. I look forward to building upon the success of previous leadership and expanding the implementation of our new strategic plan. I also look forward to working with Trustees and staff as we continue to raise the bar to support initiatives that will Educate, Enhance, and Expand the real estate community.
The SIOR Foundation Board of Trustees recently voted to increase its grant and scholarship budget to nearly $300,000! Over half of this amount will go directly to SIOR Chapters and regions to support educational programs and student scholarships. If you haven’t already done so, check out our new video promoting all of the amazing work that the foundation accomplishes and supports. Visit www.siorfoundation.org to view the overview of our programs.
This year, my fellow trustees and I will work hard to make sure that chapter leadership takes full advantage of available funding. We will be strongly promoting programs that will enhance university relationships and help SIOR introduce the commercial real estate industry to the best and brightest students around the country and the world!
My term as president started off with a bang at the SIOR 2019 Fall World Conference in Portland. Our Fall Conference Fundraiser netted the foundation $30,000! Terry Smith, SIOR, of Colliers International in Nashville, won the drawing. Thanks to our sponsors, Atisa Industrial and Endura Advisory Group, Terry will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the 2020 SIOR International European Conference in Dublin!
The SIOR Foundation was also the beneficiary of a 200-mile bike ride for charity that 12 hardy SIORs participated in prior to the conference. Ralph Benzakein, SIOR, and Bill Burgess, SIOR, arranged the entire endeavor and, thanks to their hard work, the team raised over $20,000 for the Foundation. My deepest appreciation goes out to them and all the riders!
SIOR’s are not only the best in the industry, but amazing people as well. Since 1999, your generosity has helped the SIOR Foundation provide scholarships to over 1,000 students studying real estate. Last year alone, through the Matching Chapter Scholarship program, over $230,000 in scholarships were awarded to more than 60 well deserving students! The SIOR Foundation could not do what it does without YOU! Your support is what make it possible for us to fulfill our mission.
Sincerely,
Chris Curtis, SIOR
815.929.9095
ccurtis@nugentcurtis.com