As part of its National Shelter Foundation, Royal LePage in Lacombe has given $51,500 to Victim Services, which will be spread out over five years.

Each year Royal LePage Canada helps around 30,000 women and children escape family violence.  

Owner of the Lacombe franchise, Michael Gouchie explained how the money will be used.

“If a woman or child is in trouble they call Victim Services and they might provide temporary lodging for them, we also have an educational component. It might even be as simple as getting a cab for them late at night to go to the shelter in Red Deer.”

Normally, the money goes towards women's shelters but currently Lacombe doesn't have one of its own.

Gouchie said the money is raised two ways.

“We have a garage sale every year and they have it all across Canada and everything that is made from the garage sale goes to the Royal LePage Foundation. The second way we raise money is every house a Royal LePage realtor sells in our Lacombe office, we donate a portion of what we make to Victim Services.”

In total the foundation has raised over 30 million dollars and has helped around 30,000 women and children escape family violence each year.

Royal LePage Canada is also the only real estate company to have its own charitable foundation.