C.A.R. to recognize California REALTORS® as "Champions of Home" for exemplary service

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Sep 01, 2015, 10:59 ET

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (C.A.R.) will honor three REALTORS® as "Champions of Home," California REALTORS® who have changed their clients' lives for the better, raised the standards for others, and led by example. In its third year, the award honors REALTORS® who have been selected by their peers as individuals who have gone to great lengths on behalf of their clients and practice business with the highest ethics and morals.

The 2015 Champions of Home Award winners are Kay Wilson-Bolton of Century 21 Hometown Realty in Santa Paula, Calif.; Kim Eichorn of Lyon Real Estate in Davis, Calif.; and Anthony Cassel of Bay Sotheby's International Realty in Berkeley, Calif. These REALTORS® repeatedly have gone above and beyond in service to their clients and have shown care and compassion in making sure their clients' dreams of owning a home became a reality. The winners will receive the honors during a luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 7, during C.A.R.'s CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2015 to be held in San Jose, Calif.

"Kay Wilson-Bolton, Kim Eichorn, and Anthony Cassel are exemplary REALTORS® who push themselves and consistently set higher standards by showing extreme diligence and empathy in serving their clients," said C.A.R. President Chris Kutzkey. "These model REALTORS® are not only successful in their business, but it's clear they are passionate about what they do both for their clients and their communities. They are true heroes, and I'm proud to recognize them as our 2015 Champions of Home."

The 2015 C.A.R. Champions of Home are:

Kay Wilson-Bolton, Century 21 Hometown Realty, Santa Paula, Calif.
Despite being a top producer with her brokerage, completing at least 110 transactions in the last two years, Kay Wilson-Bolton still finds time to be extremely helpful and remarkably compassionate toward her clients. She's represented clients in difficult circumstances, including helping clients in out-of-state sales, people with financial difficulties, and clients who have suffered tragic losses.

In one transaction, she helped out-of-state sellers deal with a property sale that had seven liens against the property. Wilson-Bolton guided her clients through the complicated process and got the building sold in less than a week with multiple offers.

Combining her real estate expertise with her love for her community, she's contracted with the Public Guardian's Office of Ventura County, displaying patience and kindness as she works with clients who are mentally ill or have dementia. In this capacity, she assists them in preparing, assessing, and marketing their clients' properties, many of them challenging because they are in conservatorship or the owners are deceased. More than once, Wilson-Bolton has forgone her commission to help a distressed seller get any proceeds from the sale of their home.

In addition to being an effective REALTOR®, she runs a successful operation out of her office that provides services to the less fortunate in Santa Paula, Calif. With the help of dozens of volunteers and employees, Many Meals collects food and prepares 600 meals each week. Wilson-Bolton still finds time to be chaplain for her local fire department, sit with people in hospice, and give back to the community in many other ways.

Kim Eichorn of Lyon Real Estate, Davis, Calif.
Kim Eichorn truly personifies what above and beyond represents. Whether it's representing her clients, serving on numerous boards in her community, donating to charity, or inspiring new REALTORS®, she always exceeds expectations. Eichorn is a third-generation REALTOR® and will serve as president of the Yolo County Board of REALTORS® next year, following in her mother and grandfather's footsteps.

Eichorn recently conducted a home sale entirely by long distance because the sellers lived out of state. The home needed repairs before it could be put on the market, but Eichorn coordinated the repairs and stopped by the house frequently to ensure repairs were on track. When a problem arose in the attic, Eichorn scheduled a structural engineer to make sure the repairs were made to code.

Not only does Eichorn stand out to her clients, she also stands out in her community. With a nod to Toms Shoes, which donates a pair of shoes to needy children with the sale of each pair, Eichorn makes a monetary donation with the close of every transaction on behalf of her clients to the charity of their choice. Last year, she donated $15,000 to several Yolo County charity organizations. Every fall, she rents a shredding truck that comes to the office and invites the community to use it for free. Her only request is a donation of non-perishable food for a local, Davis-based charity called Short Term Emergency Aid Committee (STEAC). Eichorn serves on the board of STEAC, which provides immediate help to Yolo County families and individuals whose incomes are at or below poverty level.

Anthony Cassel, Bay Sotheby's International Realty, Berkeley, Calif.
Not even 40 years old yet, Anthony Cassel has been working in real estate for 17 years. In representing a seller, Anthony Cassel's professionalism and experience allowed his clients to step back and leave the process entirely in Cassel's hands. When the roof sprang a leak, Cassel was there within minutes and called someone to have it repaired. On moving day, the seller didn't have anyone to help him move things out of his garage, so Cassel called some movers who took care of it immediately and paid for the movers out of his own pocket.

When he isn't working with home buyers or sellers, he's mentoring new agents, taking them on showings, and offering support and advice.

Passionate about making a difference, Cassel volunteers for Home for a Home, a charity that helps put a roof over the heads of those less fortunate. He donates a portion of his commission and travels to Guatemala to help build homes for the poor. He's worked on an initiative to provide a men's homeless shelter in Berkeley. He and his wife are active in animal rescue groups and are currently preparing to open an animal sanctuary.

CALIFORNIA REALTOR® EXPO 2015, the state's largest real estate trade show, will be held Oct. 6-8 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. EXPO 2015 offers three full days of valuable and insightful seminars, various targeted bootcamps, and networking opportunities for California REALTORS®.

Leading the way...® in California real estate for more than 110 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with more than 175,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

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SOURCE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS