Foundation Funds Help Pros, Students Grow
by Kim Shindle
Someone new to the real estate industry may find it tough to scrape together the extra money for education.
Although it’s been many years since he received his PREF scholarship, Fred Humphrey recalls how important it was to him when his career was just beginning.
Humphrey, president of the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS®, used the scholarship to earn his Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation. He recalls, “I was at a point in my career then when the scholarship was very much welcome. It’s something you cherish when you’re first starting out.”
The PA REALTORS® Education Foundation (PREF) provides financial assistance for education. PREF annually awards 20 scholarships to REALTORS® who are pursuing a professional designation. The scholarship, which can be as much as $500, may be used toward tuition for an approved designation course and travel and lodging expenses incurred while attending the course.
Sometimes REALTORS® use the scholarships to expand their expertise to a specific niche. Suzanne Gruneberg, a broker with RE/MAX Premier Group in Pittsburgh, used her PREF scholarship to pursue her Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation.
“I’ve spent hundreds of dollars in self education,” Gruneberg recalls. “The SRES designation is very expensive and worthwhile. I was grateful the PREF scholarship helped finance this particular designation.” Gruneberg has also earned her Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) and At Home with Diversity, One America.
PREF also provides financial assistance to college students who are pursuing a real estate career through its grant-in-aid program. Any candidate may apply, however, preference is given to REALTORS® and their children, spouses and employees.
Blaze Cambruzzi of High Associates, Ltd. is one such recipient. The son of REALTOR® Andrew Cambruzzi of Irwin, Cambruzzi received a grant-in-aid while attending Millersville University. The younger Cambruzzi sold real estate with his father throughout college and joined High Associates as a member of the sales and leasing team last year. He will complete his master’s degree this month.
“It was great to receive the PREF grant-in-aid to help with my college education,” Cambruzzi notes.
Cambruzzi, who is responsible for industrial/commercial brokerage, leasing, and development and represents buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants of commercial and industrial properties at High Associates, loves his career choice.
“I absolutely enjoy this exciting career,” Cambruzzi adds. “High Associates is at the forefront of much of the economic development in this region. What we do encompasses the entire scope of the real estate industry.”