A year ago, I wrote about the passing of Mr. Perry Gault four days before our Annual Holiday Party and Toy Drive. Mr. Gault served as president of Bronx Manhattan North Association Realtors (BMNAR) in 1995. He also led our Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) drive and was in charge of reporting on our public relations activities to my Board of Governors. Mr. Gault always pushed me to write and share the BMNAR story. During the Holiday season, Mr. Gault led the Toy Drive because he wanted to put a smile on faces of many kids, his kids. Since he was a Realtor, he referred to them as “Realtors’ Kids.” 

On December 12, 2018, BMNAR gathered at Marina del Rey Caterers to celebrate the 34th Annual Holiday Party and Toy Drive. The crowd was smaller than usual as several local organizations across the borough were also celebrating the holiday season.

Nevertheless, hundreds of members, friends, and real estate professionals came out to celebrate this joyous time of the year and most brought a unwrapped gift or donated money for the “Realtors’ Kids.”

The evening was full of laughter, networking, and 4½ hours of unlimited premium buffet and drinks. First Class Entertainment provided an amazing assortment of music to help burn away the calories. A big holiday thank you goes out to BMNAR’s 2018 major sponsors for helping to make the evening a success: Judicial Title Insurance Agency LLC (valet parking and raffle); and Hutchinson Metro Center ( photo booth). 

Many companies showed their support for BMNAR by purchasing one to three tables at the Holiday Party: Berashith Realty; Chatam Management Co, Inc.; Exclusive Properties Sotheby’s International Realty; Hertz, Cherson, & Rosenthal, P.C.; KZA realty Group, Inc.; Langsam Property Services Corp.; Novick, Edelstein, Lubell, Reisman, Wasserman, & Leventhal, P.C.; and Sandra Erickson Real Estate. Thank you for making our holiday party your holiday party!

According to Ellen Feld, BMNAR’s 2018 president, “It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to give gifts to families who need a little help during this joyous time of the year. Thank you to the many who donated a toy for ‘Operation Realtors’ Kids.” A holiday party is not complete unless you have a successful toy drive and ours is one of the best.” 

Last year, I mentioned my Christmas wish is that Mr. Gault’s holiday spirit will be kept alive by his son, Jeffrey Gault. This year, Jeffrey sponsored the toy drive. Mr. Gault’s spirit now lives through Jeffrey. “God bless us all, everyone!”

If you are a Realtor of another local Realtor Association or real estate professional looking to join a local Realtor board, you do not need to have an office in Manhattan or The Bronx to be active members of the BMNAR. Our next networking event is the 4th Annual “Bowling with BMNAR” on March 5, 2019. 

For information on sponsorships, advertising opportunities, or/and becoming a member, contact Janine Schall at (718) 892-3000, or [email protected]; or myself via e-mail at [email protected]. 

Eliezer Rodriguez, Esq. is the chief executive officer of The Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors, Bronx, N.Y.