REIN Canada Comitted to the Cause
By Sand Arndt, Freelance
The members of the Real Estate Investment Network(REIN), led by President Don Campbell, are passionate in their support for Habitat for Humanity. REIN Canada is 3,400 members strong, and through book sales and other initiatives, they have raised almost $500,000 toward the building of new homes for families in Edmonton since 2005.
Campbell believes 100 per cent in the Habitat for Humanity program. Along with his wife, REIN CFO Connie Campbell, he says, "We are a community and we are in an economic turmoil. I believe that in good times and in bad times, people have to find a way to support their community."
With their support for Habitat, the Campbells and REIN have found a way to do exactly that.
"For every house they build in Edmonton, they build another one internationally," Campbell says. "Habitat Edmonton is so well-organized and they're willing to do whatever it takes. They have passion for what they're doing -and so do we."
Don Campbell is also the best-selling author of three books on real estate investing, and the fourth will be available in October. "I never intended to write a book," he says. "They (publishers John Wiley and Sons) came to me and asked me to write this book. I had to think about it, and I came up with this offer -I'll write the book if 100 per cent of the royalties go to Habitat for Humanity. I never thought they'd go for it, but they did.
"It took a year to write the book (Real Estate Investing in Canada), and my goal was to raise $20,000 for Habitat. I thought that was an amount that could really make a difference. But we blew that out of the water when REIN members also took up the cause and got involved in September 2005. We created one of those big charity thermometers, and I asked the members of REIN where we should set the top. They said$500,000, and I almost fell off the stage. But then I thought, why not? If they're committed, I'm committed.
"We're now at $461,000, over 90 per cent of that to Habitat Edmonton."
Although Don is an enthusiastic and active supporter of Habitat, his schedule made it impossible for him to be here to present the keys to the 101st Habitat home in Edmonton. Doing the honours was Barry McGuire, co-author of '97 Tips for Canadian Real Estate Investors'.
"The key ceremony is a very exciting one," Campbell says. "Handing over the keys, seeing the looks on the faces of the home owners, is overwhelming. You just know they've got 'it' -whatever 'it' is -to make this work. You know they're going to succeed. Most of the time, they have kids and they've been living in rental accommodation, and now their kids are going to learn about home ownership and about being a part of their community."
Don had a message to pass along to the 101st key holders, and to other partner families as well: "Number one, honour your family. Make sure they are comfortable in this house, and do whatever it takes to make that happen. Number two, honour your community. Make sure you are proud of your community and do whatever it takes to show your support and to be a contributing member of your community. And finally, find a way, however you can and at whatever level you can, to pay this forward. Don't let this life-changing momentum stop with you. Do whatever it takes to give back."
REIN is serious about raising funds and awareness for the cause. Case in point:Habitat for Humanity had a booth at a recent economic summit that was hosted by REIN in Edmonton. The event brought together a panel of economists and financial experts, and drew a crowd of 800 people with an interest in real estate investment.
"It was good to be able to provide people with an opportunity to ask questions," says Campbell. "At the end of the day, $33,000 was raised for Habitat for Humanity in Edmonton. Of that, every dollar went to support the build."
Funds raised by Habitat's ReStore operation cover Habitat's administration costs, Campbell explained, so that funds raised go directly to the builds and to serving families.
Created in Vancouver in 1992, REIN was originally the brainchild of Alan Jacques. Don Campbell was there as a part of the original team. When Alan was diagnosed with Parkinsons and another licensee in Alberta retired in 2001, Campbell stepped up. He said he would take the reins, consolidate and take REIN to a whole new level by focusing on research while empowering investors with knowledge. He has been true to his word:the membership has blossomed from 300 to 3,400, and they have purchased $2.856 billion in long-term real estate in Canada. "And that's just the number we know about," says Campbell.
"REIN is a community that stretches from Nova Scotia to Victoria. It's a community of people who want to create wealth with their real estate investments. But more than that, they also want to make a difference."