Making a Difference

For over 70 years the agents and employees of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty (RLSIR) have been involved in community service work and charitable organizations throughout Arizona. These efforts have historically been the individual pursuits of an agent or an office within the company. RLSIR leadership collected data and research on the impact of these multiple efforts and saw an opportunity to bring them together in a united entity with company support to enhance and improve these efforts.  The Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation (RLF) provides a safe, constructive and fulfilling way for all our Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty family to participate and help. In January of 2014, the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation was formed and operates through every office within the company and all across the State of Arizona.

In June of 2021, the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation was rebranded as the Russ Lyon Foundation.

We reference our offices as v-corps. V-Corps is short for Volunteer Corps. A corps is a unit or team of people engaged in a high level of service for a common goal. Within each Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty office, there is a V-Corps of agents, employees, and management that volunteer their time together to provide help for those in need. It is one of the principal goals of the Russ Lyon Foundation to provide valuable and meaningful service work within our Arizona communities, as well as charitable investment.

What We've Achieved

2021

  • The year started with a sponsorship of $13,500 shared among 6 organizations. Lighthouse for Hope was selected as the 2021 Featured charity, receiving $10,000 of that total.

  • The Russ Lyon Foundation announced a $100,000 commitment to 4 Arizona Community Colleges, providing 100 student scholarships over the course of the next 5 years through the new Lyon’s Pride Scholarship program.

  • An additional $11,000 was donated to 10 Arizona Food Banks, and our featured organization Rancho Feliz due to the continuing Covid-19 crisis.

  • Upon learning of the flooding and destruction that happened in Flagstaff, AZ due to the wildfires, $5000 was immediately donated to the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) of Flagstaff’s Disaster Relief Fund, matching 50% of the initial seed money provided by ACF.

  • September has been dedicated as “Love Your Neighbor” month. All donations to the Russ Lyon Foundation during the month of September will be dedicated to the Arizona Housing Fund. To kickstart the fundraiser, a flash sale of “Love Your Neighbor” apparel was launched in mid August, to create team spirit among the Foundation members. All proceeds from the sale will also be donated to the Arizona Housing Fund.

  • Since the Russ Lyon Foundation began in 2014, over $207,293 in donations have gone to close to 70 501c3 charitable organizations through direct donations, sponsorships, matching funds, and fundraisers, with a focus on Arizona based chapters.

  • $67,665 in donations by Russ Lyon Foundation Members have been matched, for a combined contribution of $135,330 going to charitable organizations throughout Arizona.

  • In response to the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, $22,000 was donated directly to food banks around the state of Arizona, and our featured organization Rancho Feliz. Additionally, $5000 was donated to the Arizona Together Fund to provide other critical assistance in response to this crisis.

  • In May of 2020, the Russ Lyon Foundation, in conjunction with the Arizona Association of REALTORS, Anton Sports, promoted a “Love Your Neighbor” t-shirt campaign. 529 shirts sold, allowing for a $5290 donation to the Arizona Housing Fund, to help battle homelessness.

  • NotMYKid received a $10,000 sponsorship as one of the Russ Lyon Foundation’s 2020 featured organizations, putting donations to work saving the lives of teens and creating awareness of the pressures they face.

  • $2500 was donated by Russ Lyon Foundation Members, and matched, for a total donation of $5000 to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, allowing Members to name one of the rescued Mountain Lions. (Name to be announced June 15, 2020)

  • The Russ Lyon Foundation was a Signature Sponsor of Homeward Bound’s inaugural Rooftop Event, putting $10,000 to work helping families find their way out of poverty. Homeward Bound was also a 2019 featured organization.

  • Since 2016, $53,426 has been dedicated towards education programs, sponsorships for underprivileged children, and food distributions for Rancho Feliz, one of our featured organizations, founded by Gil Gillenwater and his brother Troy Gillenwater of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty

  • 2019 fundraiser for Homeward Bound raised $3355 in direct donations, with a match of $1645 from Russ Lyon Foundation, meeting the goal of a $5000 holiday season donation.

  • 2018 Founders Club Contribution of $20,000 through Celebrity Fight Night allowed us to support Barrow Neurological Institute Alzheimer and Memory Disorders Program and Hospice of the Valley as our featured organizations that year.

  • 2016's title sponsorship and additional donations totaling $25,000 for the Dancing for Arizona's Children event helped Arizona's Children Association raise $177,000 to assist foster children.

  • 2015 to 2018 VCorps volunteers helped make a $101, 060 impact for various Arizona Salvation Army chapters by manning Red Kettles during the holiday season, direct donations, and matching funds from the Russ Lyon Foundation in support of the Real Estate Wednesdays program

  • Countless hours of ongoing efforts by our VCorps volunteers, continue to include planting sustainable gardens at food banks, cleaning trails in our park systems, holding blood drives, food drives, clothing drives and more.

  • CLICK HERE for a list of organizations the Russ Lyon Foundation has supported.

  • CLICK HERE for what’s happening in your area