We are honored and proud to share with you that at this years annual awards hosted by the Peoria Area Association of Realtors, our fearless leader – Bryson Smith – was recognized for his dedication to giving back to his community and was named the prestiged recipient of the Distinguished Member for Community Service.
It would be incredibly difficult to name all of the organizations and causes Bryson has contributed to, because he does so, so effortlessly and as a second nature. We did, however, want to shine some light on a few of the facilities that we are proud to have donated to, whether that be with time or money.
Bryson has always prided himself on playing an active role in his communities. In addition to his avid support efforts of local small-businesses, his team also spent 3+ years contributing a portion of proceeds from every transaction to CASA, an advocacy agency dedicated to helping children find safe and permanent homes. Bryson spent numerous years himself, being a court appointed special advocate for children in foster care who were in need of a positive role model. He spent hours visiting with many children, teaching them life skills, acting as a confidant for them, and showing them through leadership what impact positive choices could have on their lives.
In 2020, Bryson started a personal collective with his team to gather donations for the Crittenton Center, an organization that provides services to children, teens, and families in need. Crittenton supports family reunification and promotes safety, permanency, and the well-being of children. Bryson was able to put together one of the largest donations seen including diapers, formula, baby food, toys and snacks for needy children in our community.
Also in 2020, Bryson personally donated $5,000 to the Center for Prevention of Abuse, a facility composed of advocates who provide support and services for victims of abuse, assault, and trafficking. This contribution allows the center to continue providing hot meals, counseling, and shelter to survivors of abuse and families in emergency shelters.
The team announced & completed a goal in 2021 to raise $25,000 for the Heller Center for Kids with Cancer – a product of OSF’s Children’s Hospital of Illinois. The program provides patients and families with critical, non-medical tools that support them from diagnosis, through, and beyond their cancer journey.
Bryson named his office a drop zone for donations for Keller Williams 2022 Red Day efforts to expand Foster Village into the Peoria area. He and his team, loaded with two truck loads of donations headed over to the Foster Village Peoria location and assisted in painting the new facilities to prep them to receive many new families as a place for support and a place to visit with their children while waiting for permanent placement, as well as a resource room for new foster parents who have taken in new placements.
Bryson and his team continue to support the Phoenix Community Development Services programs like “Gimme Shelter” for six years running. Proceeds of the event go towards providing healthy food and permanent housing to our neighbors without homes. In 2023, Bryson and his team partnered with KWPR’s Market Center 633 to lend a helping hand to Phoenix by landscaping quite a few of their properties in the Peoria area. They cleaned up trash and beautified landscaping for Glendale Commons, Veterans Haven, and two additional Peoria area housing units.
In addition to his personal efforts, Bryson has financially invested in many charities throughout his career, including but not limited to: Obtaining his Golden R for RPAC contributions totaling over $25,000, ongoing donations to KW Cares, Hickory Grove Elementary PTO, 309 Disc Chuckers, Meadows Avenue Tap St Jude Fish Fry, Playing in Peoria, Peoria Rugby Club, Red Hot Christmas, and Limestone Walkers.
Outside of monetary donations and contributions of time Bryson is also an advocate among our industry as a listening ear for many of our fellow agents as they navigate new conflicts and face hurdles in their own business. Bryson has never shied away from talking out problem solving with fellow agents. He never ceases to show up as a leader and most importantly as a friend for so many of us in our time of need.
If you would like to learn more about organizations in our area that would be worthy of a helping hand, or if you have interest in partnering on your next philanthropist experience – please do not hesitate to reach out. We all achieve more when we work together! Thank you, Bryson, for being a constant inspiration to so many!