Making a Difference Through Local Philanthropy

For Richard Ellis, owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty in Nyack, N.Y., giving back to the community is an important endeavor. Making the lives of children and families in need is central to his philanthropic efforts.

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty was started in 1986 by Ellis’s father, William J. Ellis. He’s since taken over the business, applying his marketing and communications know-how to every facet of the brokerage. Creating a cohesive and supportive team that’s involved in the community has become a top priority as well. “I think any private business should find a way to give back,” Ellis says.

He and his team’s previous charitable contributions include raising money to build hurricane-resistant homes in Haiti and partnering with local nonprofits during the holidays to raise money and goods to ensure families in need have food and gifts.

In 2016, though, Ellis wanted to find a way to bring together his passion for helping children and his company culture. Sotheby’s International Realty is in the same family as Sotheby’s Auction House, so an appreciation for the arts is a big part of the brand’s identity. Luckily, Ellis didn’t have to go far to figure out how to combine his philanthropic efforts with the arts.

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