Dec. 16, 2022

Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

2022 Strides for Shelter 5K raises over $39,444 for the Charlotte Rescue Mission

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As the year in real estate winds down, over 350 Realtors^® gathered Fri., December 16, at the Sonesta Charlotte Executive Park for the Canopy Realtor^® Association 2022 Holiday Awards Luncheon and Annual Meeting. 

Members participated in Canopy Housing Foundation’s virtual auction, which raises funds annually to help support local unmet housing needs in Mecklenburg, Iredell and Haywood Counties. The Foundation also presented the Charlotte Rescue Mission with funds raised from the 2022 Strides for Shelter 5k. The race, which was held in October 2022, raised over $39,444 and will fund the creation of an admissions waiting area in their new facility, to provide a welcoming, and more private environment. The admission area will also be named after Canopy.

Members also paid tribute to outstanding real estate industry leaders, association volunteers, and local humanitarians in our community.

2022 Humanitarian Award – Mother and daughter duo Sandra Marks and Kenya Joseph-Fodrowowski, founders of Hearts and Hands Food Pantry

Marks and Kenya were recognized for their strong commitment to combating food insecurity, expanding food access and creating food equity. This organization is one of the only fully independent food banks in NC; therefore, allowing their services to be easily accessible and low barrier so that anyone can get the help that they need, whenever they need it. Canopy Housing Foundation presented the 2022 Humanitarians with a $5,000 award, which they have chosen to use to continue their work with Hearts and Hands Food Pantry.

Industry awards – 2022 Realtor® of the Year

Brenda D. Hayden, a veteran Realtor®/broker and Team Lead with Keller Williams University, was named the 2022 Realtor® of the Year. The award is the highest honor given by the Association and recognizes a Realtor® member who has made outstanding contributions to both the real estate profession and community.

With more than 20 years of experience in residential real estate, Hayden early on, recognized the value of being actively involved in the Association and the community. She has made it her mission to be a positive influence in the lives of others through education and mentorship and leaving the community in a better state for the next generation. She is past-president (serving in 2019) of Canopy Realtor® Association and Canopy MLS, and currently serves as 2022 Chair of the Real Estate & Building Industry Coalition (REBIC).

Hayden is a long-time resident of Charlotte, after living in Boston, Massachusetts, where she grew up, as well as Florida. She received her MBA from Queens University and a Bachelor of Science from Northeastern University.  Since settling in Charlotte, Hayden has explored several careers, including insurance and credit finance, but real estate has been her passion.

She began her volunteer work with Canopy Housing Foundation in 2005 with the Fair and Affordable Housing Advisory Group, where she served as chair in 2011 (2005-2014).  She has served on the Foundation’s Realtors® Care Day Core Committee (2012-2017) as well as the Canopy Housing Foundation Committee (2014-2017). She has also served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2015 and 2018-present and is also a member of the Association’s Diversity & Inclusion Alliance/African-American Advisory Group (2013-present). Her industry service also includes work on the state level, with the NC REALTORS® Board of Directors for Region 8 (2017-present) and the Homes4NC Board of Directors (2015-2017). On the national level, she serves on the NAR Board of Directors representing Region 4 (2015-present).

Hayden has been a champion of affordable housing initiatives since her work at Builders of Hope, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing workforce housing by taking existing inventory that is either vacant, foreclosed or marked for demolition and repairs and rebuilding them into energy-efficient, affordable homes and apartments for sale or rent. When she served as the Charlotte Area Director (2009-2013), she recruited hundreds of volunteers for revitalization efforts, raised more than $600,000 and secured land donations from state agencies valued at more than $2,000,000, identified properties for rehab and gained support for the projects from government, community and faith-based organizations.  Her service to community and work towards affordable housing continues today, as an at-large member of Canopy Housing Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Hayden is married to James Hayden Sr. and has a daughter and a son, 3 stepsons and 9 step grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys mentoring youth, community volunteering, hiking, reading and spending time with family.

2022 Vane Mingle Rookie of the Year

Anne Carrol Mascavage, a Realtor^®/broker with Helen Adams Realty, was named the 2022 Vane Mingle Rookie of the Year.  The award is presented annually to a new Realtor^® who excels in his or her new profession.  Winners must have been members of Canopy Realtor® Association for at least 12 months and must have closed at least 10 transactions within their first 12 months as a Realtor®.  Winners must also be involved in charitable and civic organizations.

Mascavage, a native of Charlotte and graduate of Elon University, embarked on her career during the height of the pandemic, and completed 22 transactions, after leaving a remarkable twelve-year career as a kindergarten teacher, having taught for both Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Trinity Episcopal School in Uptown Charlotte.

Mascavage is active with Friendship Trays and has served as a Friendship Trays coordinator for Trinity Episcopal School, along with sponsoring numerous Make-A-Wish Foundation events. She also supports March of Dimes Live Auction Events and is a Freedom School Partners Harambee Reader.  She is involved at her church, Christ Episcopal, and has served as a part of the Sacred Ground Workshop, a workshop series that discusses America’s history of race and racism. She also volunteers with her own firm, in their Adopt-a-Street clean-up activities. As the Rookie of the Year at her firm, she has been recognized as a Gold Level producer with Helen Adams Realty and has received the Customer Service Award.

Allen Dargins, Realtor® and broker-in-charge with Realty Resources was bestowed with The President’s Award. The President’s Award is given annually to a member who goes above and beyond the call of duty.  Dargins, a long-time Association/MLS and industry volunteer, served as a 2022 Association Board of Director as well as 2022 RPAC Chair, responsible for fundraising for the PAC. Dargins and his RPAC committee raised more than $225,000 this past year for the Realtor® Party, which advocates on behalf of the rights of homeowners and for homeownership. Dargins will continue to serve on the board as a member of the 2023 Executive Committee, leading the Association and MLS next year in the role of Secretary.

The 2022 Committee Chair of the Year Award was bestowed upon Jason Morton, Realtor^®/broker with Premier South Real Estate. The award is given annually at the president’s discretion to a chairperson who goes above and beyond the call of duty. Morton served as the 2022 Chair of Canopy Housing Foundation Board of Directors, overseeing programming, events and affordable housing initiatives this past year, while also serving on a number of association committees as well.

Canopy Real Estate Institute honors Dana Rhodes

Rhodes, an instructor with Canopy Real Estate Institute was also recognized for exemplary service in real estate instruction, by Canopy Real Estate Institute. Rhodes, a National Association of Realtors® Distinguished Real Estate Instructor (DREI) Emeritus, has been guiding careers in real estate since 1999, teaching pre-and-post-licensing courses, continuing education, designation and certification courses. Rhodes has held a number of leadership positions over the years; most notably he served on the boards of the Canopy Realtor^® Association and NC REALTORS®. He has also served as president of the North Carolina Real Estate Educators Association and participated on countless committees, including the Real Estate Educators Association DREI committee.

For more residential-housing market statistics, visit www.CarolinaHome.com and click on “Market Data.” For an interview with 2022 Association/Canopy MLS President Lee Allen, Realtor®/Broker-in-charge with RE/MAX Executive, please contact Kim Walker.

Canopy Realtor® Association owns and operates Canopy MLS, the region’s primary source for accurate and timely property data in a multicounty service area including the Charlotte MSA, Asheville MSA and Catawba Valley region spanning across North Carolina and South Carolina to outside the Carolinas. Canopy MLS provides the latest technology, tools and analytics that Realtors® utilize to support consumers with their residential real estate transactions.   

Original Publish Date: 12/16/2022