December 18, 2017

Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149

Charlotte, N.C. – More than 400 Realtors^® gathered Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at the Crowne Plaza Charlotte Executive Park for the Charlotte Regional Realtor^® Association/Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. (CarolinaMLS) 2017 Holiday Awards Luncheon & Annual Meeting. Members also paid tribute to outstanding real estate industry leaders and association volunteers, in addition to the Housing Opportunity Foundation, the association’s charitable-arm, honoring Shaun “Lucky” Corbett, owner and principal barber of Da Lucky Spot Barbershop, with the 2017 Humanitarian Award.

Corbett, a seasoned professional barber, has been a community advocate since taking ownership of Da Lucky Spot Barbershop in 2006. After returning to barber college and speaking with students about life in the barber industry, he soon realized he wanted to create a culture of community engagement and second chances through service and giving back. Since opening his business, he has annually hosted back-to-school book bag donation events, community Thanksgiving turkey drives, coat drives and community health fairs. Da Lucky Spot Barbershop has also opened its doors to serve as an education station by offering free weekly tutoring sessions to children of all ages. To date, Corbett and Da Lucky Spot Barbershop have impacted the lives of more than 10,000 families in need.

Most notably, Corbett is recognized for creating the “Cops & Barbers” initiative, which is a partnership between the NC Local Barbers Association and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). The initiative, which originated with Corbett and retired CMPD Detective Garry McFadden, started in the wake of the Ferguson, Missouri riots as a way to increase dialogue and create relationships between the community and police departments and to help citizens within the community understand the best way to interact with law enforcement.

The program was recognized nationally in 2015 by former President Barack Obama and his 21^st Century Policing Initiative, which resulted in an invitation for Corbett to meet the President and participate on the 21^st Century Policing panel discussion. Corbett has also attended a police conference with CMPD Chief Kerr Putney to talk more about the program. Currently, Cops & Barbers is in the process of launching a scholarship program. Cops & Barbers has been replicated in Greenville, North Carolina, as well as other communities across the state.

Association/CarolinaMLS president Roger Parham said, “Shaun embodies the spirit of this award, and his commitment and dedication to service are truly remarkable. His contributions to our local community have made a tremendous impact and have taken off statewide to help other communities. His vision and servant leadership serve as inspiration for us all to do more to effect change within our own communities.”

As the Housing Opportunity Foundation’s Humanitarian Award winner, Corbett received a commemorative crystal award and the ability to designate a charity of his choice to receive $5,000 from the foundation. Corbett has chosen to designate The Blessing House Inc., a non-profit organization that works with single women in transition from homelessness and substance abuse to prepare for reengagement into society. The Blessing House, Inc. works to secure transitional housing to offer stability, counseling and other necessary tools for their client’s success.

About the Housing Opportunity Foundation  The Housing Opportunity Foundation is the charitable arm of the Charlotte Regional Realtor^® Association. The foundation is dedicated to funding, education, advocacy and leadership programs that are focused on fair and affordable housing and workforce-housing initiatives. The foundation serves to position and educate Realtors^® as leaders, promote homeownership and provide funding to create housing opportunities.

 For more information, about the Association or the Foundation visit www.CarolinaHome.com. For interviews, please contact Kim Walker.

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The Charlotte Regional Realtor^® Association is a trade association that provides its more than 10,100 Realtor^® members with the resources and services they need to conduct ethical, professional, successful and profitable businesses. The association is dedicated to being the region's primary resource for residential real estate information. The association operates the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. (CarolinaMLS), which has more than 15,300 Subscribers and is the private cooperative Realtors^® use for access to tens of thousands of residential listings in a multicounty service area, including Charlotte, the Piedmont area of North Carolina and South Carolina, and beyond.

Original Publish Date: 12/18/2017