Dallas Real Estate Community Raises $265,000 For Injured Transwestern Professional

160 Attended "Tommy's Nite Out - The Reunion" Fundraiser

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Jul 01, 2014, 07:00 ET

DALLAS, July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Transwestern's Dallas office today announces nearly $265,000 has been donated to the Van Zandt Family Trust, benefiting former Transwestern team member Tommy Van Zandt and his family. In 2009, Van Zandt fell from a ladder while trimming trees in his backyard, leaving him a quadriplegic. Transwestern's Dallas office united the Dallas real estate community to raise money for his long road of treatments and care, hosting the first "Tommy's Nite Out" event in June 2009 and raising more than $200,000 for the Van Zandt family. Five years later, with the Van Zandt Family Trust depleted, Transwestern, Hall Financial Group and other commercial real estate professionals banded together once again and on May 22 held the "Tommy's Nite Out – The Reunion" fundraiser.

Tommy Van Zandt (front) with his wife, Robyn (far left), and the "Tommy's Nite Out - The Reunion" event co-chairs, (L-R) Kim Butler with Hall Financial, Randy Garrett and Jack Eimer, both with Transwestern. "Tommy's Nite Out - The Reunion" raised nearly $265,000 to benefit the Van Zandt Family Trust, which covers the extensive medical care required by Tommy Van Zandt, who suffered a tragedy in 2009 leaving him a quadriplegic. (PRNewsFoto/Transwestern)

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140630/123367

Van Zandt served for approximately 10 years with Transwestern and led the agency leasing – office team in Dallas before returning to his home state of Arkansas to start his own firm. He remains a partial owner and managing partner of Fayetteville, Arkansas-based Sage Partners, the commercial real estate firm he co-founded. In order to continue working, Van Zandt begins each day with two caregivers, four breathing treatments and 30 pills. The cost of all his treatments, breathing equipment, medication and caregivers exceeds $20,000 a month, little of which is covered by insurance.

The goal was to raise $240,000 – enough to cover 12 months of care, and "Tommy's Nite Out – The Reunion" exceeded this goal, raising a total of $264,919 to date.

"Tommy is an incredible husband, dad, professional and Christ-based servant leader," said Jack Eimer, Transwestern's Central president. "It was humbling to see how the Dallas commercial real estate community came together and responded once again to the needs of Tommy and his family."

"Tommy's Nite Out – The Reunion" was held on May 22 at Saint Ann's Court. Sponsorship packages ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, and donations were accepted online from those who could not attend the event. Although Van Zandt has not lived in Dallas for the last 14 years, he was able to attend the fundraiser and thank his supporters in person. View photos as well as a video from the event.

ABOUT TRANSWESTERN
Transwestern is a privately held real estate firm specializing in agency leasing, property and facilities management, tenant advisory, capital markets, research and sustainability. The fully integrated global enterprise leverages competencies in office, industrial, retail, multifamily and healthcare properties to add value for investors, owners and occupiers of real estate. As a member of the Transwestern family of companies, the firm capitalizes on market insights and operational expertise of independent affiliates specializing in development, real estate investment management and research. Transwestern has 34 U.S. offices and assists clients through more than 181 offices in 40 countries as part of a strategic alliance with Paris-based BNP Paribas Real Estate. For more information, please visit transwestern.com and follow us on Twitter: @Transwestern.

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SOURCE Transwestern