Iowans are being asked to nominate heroes in their communities for a series of national awards recognizing efforts to increase minority home ownership. Charles McMillian, a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Realtors, says they’re called the HOPE Awards — which stands for Home Ownership Participation for Everyone.
McMillian says the awards are for seven categories, including: education, finance, project of the year, brokerage, public policy, media and HOPE leadership. He says the awards are given out every other year and this is the fifth round of awards.
McMillian says “Since the onset of these awards nationally, many communities, many cities and states have themselves created a home ownership opportunity award, recognizing those individuals in the communities. The purpose of recognizing them is to inspire others to use their creativity toward this wonderful, magnificent effort.” He says buying a home is perhaps the single largest investment most of us make in our lifetimes.
He says there’s a “great divide in the American dream” and this award aims to close the gap. He says three-quarters of white Americans own their own homes while about 50-percent or fewer minorities and immigrants in the U.S. are homeowners. To nominate someone for one of the awards, surf to “www.hopeawards.org”.
Related web sites:
Hope awards entry info