Three outstanding Realtors® were recognized for their achievements during Realtors® UNITE!, the annual convention hosted by Minnesota Realtors (MNR). The ceremony took place during the Awards and Installation Dinner at the St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center on October 6. The recipients included Kath Hammerseng of Edina Realty who was named the 2021 MNR Realtor® of the Year. Patrick Paulson, of EXIT Realty Metro received the Edwin Anderson Political Achievement award for accomplishments in political advocacy on behalf of the real estate industry. And Jerry Moscowitz of RE/MAX Results was presented the Minnesota Good Neighbor Award.
Hamerseng’s decades of industry and community service recognized with Realtor of the Year Award
The MNR Realtor® of the Year recognizes a Realtor® who has volunteered and participated at all three levels of the Realtor® organization with an emphasis on state involvement.
“Kath brings a deep wealth of experience and tireless commitment to her role as a Realtor,” said Geri Theis, who was the MNR Realtor® of the Year in 2020 and presented Hammerseng with the award. “More than that, she has been a devoted member of her community, serving as a volunteer firefighter for over 20 years before stepping down from that role recently. In short, she exemplifies all the qualities we aspire to as real estate professionals and as citizens.”
A past president of the Minneapolis Area Realtors® (MAR), Hammerseng has served as the Region 6 representative on the Nominating Committee and is also a Realtors® Political Action Committee (RPAC) Trustee and the RPAC Major Investor Council state representative. On the national level, she serves as RPAC’s MI Council state representative. Additionally, she is the FPC for U.S. Congressman Dean Phillips and serves as the Minneapolis representative on the MNR Board of Directors. She is also active on MAR’s Personnel and Finance Committees, is vice chair of the Building and Grounds Committee, and is an instructor for the Minneapolis New Agent Academy, which she helped develop.
Paulson receives Ed Anderson Political Achievement Award
The Ed Anderson Political Achievement award annually honors a member for outstanding contributions in politics and public policy, both locally and nationally. Patrick Paulson, this year’s recipient, has been a volunteer leader in the areas of Fair Housing, Affordable Housing, and Governmental Affairs; and has been a longtime Major Investor to RPAC. He has also served as president and as treasurer of MAR.
Good Neighbor Award honors Moscowitz for work with Toys for Tots
The MNR Good Neighbor Award is annually presented to a Realtor® who makes a positive impact on the community through volunteer work with an organization. The award highlights individuals who give much of their time and talents to help improve the lives of people in Minnesota.
Every year, Jerry Moscowitz hosts a party in his home to benefit Toys for Tots, a charitable program administered by the U.S. Marines that collects and distributes toys and gifts for underprivileged youth every Christmas. What began as an informal get-together in 1986 where Moscowitz and few friends gave some toys to a children’s charity has grown into major drive. During the holiday season, hundreds of toys are delivered to Moscowitz’s home where they are eventually collected by the Marines. Over the last 35 years, the annual event has generated over 10,000 toy donations.
Not even the COVID-19 pandemic stopped Moscowitz’s dedication to the cause. In December 2020, he held the event outside where he encouraged people to ship toys, created an Amazon wish list and asked people to Venmo cash so that toys could still be collected and distributed. During the two-day party, Moscowitz and his wife collected a record 1,028 toys on behalf of Toys for Tots.
When asked why he holds the event, Moscowitz said: “We do it because we believe that kids should have presents to open for the holidays. I visualize the kids opening the donated gifts from my party and the smile that they may have, and this is good enough for me.”
Toys for Tots will be presented with a $1,000 contribution on behalf of Moscowitz at his party in December 2021.