Spreading Holiday Cheer: Aspire North’s Toys for Tots Success Story

03.18.2026

By Heather Sauer

This past holiday season, Aspire North REALTORS® had the privilege of partnering with Maggie Kent, the local point person for the Toys for Tots campaign in the Grand Traverse area, to help make a meaningful impact in our community.

The campaign kicked off in November and led up to a festive and impactful finale at our Christmas Party on December 12th, hosted at the beautiful Grand Traverse Resort. Members came together not only to celebrate the season, but also to give back in a big way.

As part of the evening, attendees were encouraged to bring at least one toy to be entered into a special raffle and the response was incredible. Thanks to the generosity of our members, we collected and filled approximately 6–7 boxes of toys that went directly to local children in need this past holiday season.

The raffle prize added an extra layer of excitement to the night, featuring:

A $1,000 Visa gift card for a weekend getaway of the winner’s choice
A $1,000 Ticketmaster gift card to attend any event of their choosing

In an inspiring turn of events, when the winner, Sam Flamont, was drawn, chose to donate the entire $2,000 prize back to Toys for Tots. This selfless gesture truly embodied the spirit of giving and made an already successful event even more impactful.

We were recently able to reconnect with Maggie Kent to officially present Toys for Tots with the $2,000 check generously donated back by Sam. It was a full-circle moment that highlighted the power of community, generosity, and collaboration.

This event marked one of the first public-facing initiatives led by Aspire North’s Public Relations Committee, which was newly formed in 2025. Since its inception, the committee has already demonstrated incredible momentum and success, with several more high-profile events planned for the coming year.

We are proud of what was accomplished through this collaboration and grateful to our members for their generosity and community spirit. Together, we are making a difference, one event at a time.

Picture: Cherese Villareal, Sam Flamont and Maggie Kent

Heather Sauer

Heather Sauer is the Human Resource Manager for Aspire North Realtors, bringing a strong background in human resources, leadership, and business strategy. She began her career in retail management while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northwood University, later transitioning into human resources at Target, where she served as an Executive Team Leader of Human Resources. During this time, she earned her MBA from the Northwood University DeVos Graduate School.

After relocating to Traverse City, Michigan, Heather continued her HR career with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), managing more than 30 client accounts and partnering closely with leadership teams on employee relations, compliance, and organizational development. In the fall of 2023, she expanded her professional experience into business development and entrepreneurship.

In addition to her role at Aspire North Realtors, Heather is also an independent travel agent, helping individuals, families, and groups plan seamless, memorable travel experiences. Her passion for service, organization, and relationship-building carries through both her HR and travel work.