With over 140 different organizations helped over the last decade, the Russ Lyon Foundation has turned into one of the more prominent philanthropy organizations in Arizona.
For more than 77 years, the agents, owners and employees of Arizona’s leading luxury real estate brokerage Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty have been involved in community service work and with charitable organizations throughout Arizona, either through individual efforts or through an office within the company.
The Scottsdale-based luxury brokerage later saw an opportunity to make those efforts even more impactful and formed the Russ Lyon Charitable Foundation in 2014, or as its now called, The Russ Lyon Foundation. The Russ Lyon Foundation is now proud to announce its 10th anniversary; a full decade of giving back to the communities it operates in.
Since 2014, the Russ Lyon Foundation has helped over 140 different organizations and an incalculable number of individuals across the state. Organizations that the Russ Lyon Foundation has assisted have ranged in scope from educational groups to food banks to animal rescues to land preservation groups.
That said, its good works are not just within the state of Arizona. Around 20 volunteers recently returned
from Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico to continue building houses with the Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation and assisting individuals at the local migrant center who were deported from the United States and awaiting asylum, part of a volunteer partnership that has lasted for the last decade. In addition to home building efforts, this most recent visit led to 750 needy families receiving bags of food and warm blankets as well as assistance for a dog rescue housing over 160 dogs.
While its success is best measured by the organizations and lives it has helped, its efforts have also been regularly recognized by local publications. In 2023, it earned a spot on the Corporate Philanthropy List by the Phoenix Business Journal, securing 22nd place in terms of charitable contributions and 14th place in terms of volunteer hours.
Todd Gillenwater, the founder of the Russ Lyon Foundation, said “It has been inspiring and rewarding to see our Russ Lyon Foundation grow over these ten years into a recognized, productive, and successful foundation, involving hundreds of our real estate advisors and employees and doing good work and investing in important charitable organizations all across Arizona. Truly inspiring.”
In the words of Stephanie Stewart, President of the Russ Lyon Foundation, “It has been such a pleasure to be part of the Russ Lyon Foundation over the last ten years. It is rewarding to see it evolve and grow. Each year, more and more agents and employees are serving in their communities and it is heartwarming to see and participate
alongside them.”
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty strongly believes that when the communities it operates in have contributed to a company’s success, it is simply the right thing to do to give back. It hopes that the 10th anniversary of the Russ Lyon Foundation is the first of many anniversaries it will be celebrating in what will hopefully be a very long legacy of philanthropy and community building.