The New York State Association of REALTORS® honored David Legaz of Flushing with its 2017 Community Service Award in recognition of his dedication to raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help fellow 9/11 first responders. He received the award during the association’s Mid-Winter Business Meetings in Albany, NY.

The NYSAR Community Service Award is intended to recognize REALTORS®’ community involvement supporting initiatives aimed at a community’s youth, improving the quality of education, quality of life for older Americans, homelessness prevention, as well as efforts following natural disasters and other community needs. 

Legaz, a retired New York City Police Department sergeant, spent months at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks. Wanting to find a way to help those fellow first responders who had been stricken with blood cancers due to their prolonged exposure, he began running marathons and half-marathons with Team In Training, which raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Since 2011, he has raised approximately $85,000, while completing more than 20 half-marathons in locations across the country and several New York City Marathons. Team In Training helps provide funding for significant therapies like chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, which have a significant impact on blood cancer patients.

“This award recognizes REALTORS® who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to making their communities a better place to live, and David exemplifies this commitment,” said Dawn Carpenter, 2017 president of the New York State Association of REALTORS®. “His efforts to support treatment and research to benefit those suffering from leukemia and lymphoma are truly inspirational.”

Along with an inscribed award, a grant of $500 was also made in Legaz’s name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The New York State Association of REALTORS® is a not-for-profit trade organization representing more than 55,000 of New York state’s real estate professionals. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark, which identifies real estate professionals who subscribe to a strict code of ethics as members of the National Association of REALTORS®. These REALTORS® are also members of the New York State Association of REALTORS® as well as their local board or association of REALTORS®.