Realtor nominated for national award
Miles for Smiles has helped veterans cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through the use of horses, and the woman who helped co-found the foundation is being recognized by her peers in the real estate industry.
Gail Doxie of RE/MAX Realty Group of Fort Myers was named one of 10 finalists for Realtor Magazine’s 2014 Good Neighbor Awards by The National Association of Realtors.
The award honors Realtors who help build communities, support charitable causes, and volunteer to better the lives of community members.
And it was Doxie’s work through her own charity that wowed those who decide on the finalists.
“It’s pretty exciting that we’ve been picked. We started this in honor of our late son, so for us, unlike those who work with Goodwill, we are a local charity for local veterans,” Doxie said.
Doxie said the process involves sending in testimonials from people on how it started, what it does, how many people it serves, and the like.
“It’s a very rigorous process. You have to send in five original packets, so I figure that’s how many are reviewing them,” Doxie said. “The applications need to be in by May 15, so it’s a long process for them to decide who they’re going to pick.”
Doxie said there were more than 200 applicants.
Five winners will be announced in October and will receive travel expenses to the 2014 Realtors Conference & Expo in New Orleans, where they will accept their awards, be featured in the November/ December issue of Realtor Magazine, and receive a $10,000 grant and national media exposure for their charity.
In addition, five honorable mentions will receive a $2,500 grant for their charity.
Doxie said any amount would go a long way.
“It’s very expensive to run the program. The veterans are seen for free. I’m a licensed mental health counselor, we have a horse handler and 20 acres of land, so there’s still a mortgage,” Doxie said. “It’s about $3,000 per month to keep the program going and we don’t get any compensation.”
In 2007, with her husband Keith, Doxie co-founded the Miles of Smiles Foundation, which offers equine-assisted therapy for veterans suffering from PTSD.
Doxie, a Realtor for 25 years who went back to school to earn a master’s degree in mental health counseling, helps veterans work with the horses to rebuild the trust and confidence they need to rebuild their lives.
Through the use of horses in evaluation and treatment, patients are not treated in the traditional setting of mental health counselor-patient. Instead, patients bond with a horse and, based on interactions with the horse, specialists can evaluate the person and provide treatment.
This year marks the 15th year the Good Neighbor Awards program has recognized Realtor volunteers. The Realtors being recognized have donated time, money and energy to address the needs of the people and neighborhoods of their communities.
National Association of Realtors is America’s largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate.
For more information about Miles of Smiles, call 851-0621.
To make a donation, go to the foundation’s Web site at www.milesranch.org.