Good Deeds: The Right Thing to Do

At age 5, Jessica Gutierrez, vice president for Florida’s Title Insurance Company (FTIC), lost her mother to breast cancer. Questioning whether she inherited the BRCA mutation from her mother, she underwent genetic testing. Having a BRCA mutation means you are at a much higher risk of developing breast cancer and possibly ovarian cancer. At 19, she underwent a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. 

Gutierrez is an avid advocate for young women with a family history of breast cancer, shedding light on the BRCA mutation. To honor her mother and to continue bringing awareness to the cause, the title company decided to raise money for Florida’s Breast Cancer Foundation. FTIC donated $125 for each closing it handled.  

“Around that time, ALTA put out a call to action, raising awareness for its own campaign, challenging its members through the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation,” said Randy Gilbert, chief happiness officer for FTIC. “So, we implemented our own good-deeds strategy.”

Each month, the title company selects a new charity to support. FTIC advertises that a portion of the closing fees generated that month would go to the selected 501(c)(3). 

After the checks clear, FTIC emails a copy of each individual check to both the purchaser of the title policy and their real estate agent, thanking them for choosing FTIC. Gilbert said the customers are told that if it wasn't for them, the donation could not have happened.

“The client and their Realtor can easily see their address on the memo section of the check as verification that they truly made a difference by choosing to use FTIC as their title insurance company,” Gilbert said.

FTIC has raised more than $20,000 for charities since launching the program last year. Recently, the title company raised money for the newly formed LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, which was created to combat discrimination in housing. With the help of FTIC's underwriter, Alliant National Title Insurance, which agreed to do a matching grant, FTIC raised $5,000 for the group. Additional groups FTIC has helped include Voices for Children, National MS Society, Urban Housing League and American Autism Association.

“Companies should leave a footprint and giving feels good,” Gilbert said. “Charitable opportunities open lot of doors to meet and know your community.”

Share Your Good Deeds

Community is not based on our ability to physically see and touch each other, but rather the connection and care we show for each other—especially in times of need. ALTA would like to hear how you are continuing to serve your customers and communities. We know how involved you are in your local market even when there’s not a pandemic, so we know you are actively involved in helping those that might need it most. We would like to highlight all the great volunteerism that is happening across our industry and the creative ways you’ve modified processes to get deals closed. 

Here are three ways you can share your story with us:

1. Email your story at [email protected].
2. Post your story in the comments section on our blog.
3. Share your story on Facebook or Instagram, use #GoodDeeds and tag ALTA.

Here are three ways you can share your story with us:

1. Email your story at [email protected].
2. Post your story in the comments section on our blog.
3. Share your story on Facebook or Instagram, use #GoodDeeds and tag ALTA.