Recently, Easter Seals Canada reached out to Jan Crowell, a long-standing supporter from Moncton, New Brunswick, to thank her and learn more about what drives her commitment to Easter Seals. Last year, Jan raised over $3,200 to help sends kids who are living with disabilities to Easter Seals summer camps… and in the process, received a CENTURY 21 Golden Heart Award and became a 2018 C21 Kids to Camp Club Member.
Since she started blazing trails as a REALTOR® 35 years ago, Jan Crowell has never looked back. According to Jan, she started her career at CENTURY 21 K & J Realty, a small but “powerful office of all female agents” in Moncton. Soon after getting her Manager’s license, Jan bravely decided to open up her own real estate office. “I have always been self-motivated and also my own biggest critic. I don’t need carrots, just a challenge!” says Jan. She operated her real estate office for 10 successful years before selling the company in 1999. Today, she is still helping families in the Moncton area find their forever homes with CENTURY 21 A & T Countryside Realty Inc.
One of Jan’s favourite quotes is from Winston Churchill, the former British Prime Minister: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” She strives to live up to that belief every day by giving back to community, including Easter Seals and children living with disabilities, through the C21 Kids to Camp Program.
“Last year, I participated in our company barbecue, ran a silent auction, made fundraising lunches for staff, sold ice cream for dreams, made contributions on behalf of my clients and the like,” she says tirelessly. “This year, a few of our staff organized a barbecue and 50/50 draw to co-ordinate with the Atlantic Nationals Car Show which generated $850! We are also planning an Easter Seals Auction in the fall and hope to make it an annual event.”
When asked what drives her passion to give back to community, Jan humbly says that she draws her inspiration from many people. This includes her own family and personal experiences. “I first met Brandon (CENTURY 21 Easter Seals National Ambassador from 2015-2019) when he was 9 and have always been impressed with his “CAN DO” attitude and positive energy! I would listen to him at our C21 conferences inspire others to be their best.
CENTURY 21 friends of mine across Canada were actively supporting the “Kids to Camp Program” to send children to Easter Seals summer camps, and I would donate to their efforts. I finally got on the band wagon and decided to support and promote Easter Seals in New Brunswick. It wasn’t a real stretch for me as my brother had polio when we were children and my mother was involved with the Canadian Paraplegic Association. She got me involved with volunteering at The IWK in Halifax when I was a teen, so it’s a natural segue,” says Jan.
Her unyielding enthusiasm for helping others is also infectious. When asked if she had any final words at the end of the interview, Jan said she wants to encourage others to get involved. “Please visit an Easter Seals camp and see the difference it makes in the lives of so many youths!” she says. “When Brandon spoke at a C21 event in Moncton this year, he inspired more agents to help. Also, one of the managers from SouthEastern Mutual Insurance attended and then became a sponsor for our barbecue! That is the power of Brandon Liston. I also took another agent to Easter Seals Camp Day this year and it inspired him to volunteer as a nurse at camp next summer! Brandon inspired me. If you have heard him speak, you’ll be inspired too!”
In the Spotlight is a series of stories featuring CENTURY 21 Companies and Network members across Canada and the great fundraising initiatives and efforts they have undertaken in support of Easter Seals through the C21 Kids to Camp Program.
For more information on the C21 Kids to Camp Program (www.c21kidstocamp.ca) or if you have a story to share about your CENTURY 21 Kids to Camp fundraising, please contact:
Casey Sabawi
Senior Manager, National Corporate Partnerships, Easter Seals Canada
Email: csabawi@easterseals.ca, Tel: 1-877-376-6362 ext 228