Cardinal Realty named SPAAR Hero!

Cardinal Realty has been named SPAAR Hero for its work to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. Each year, its staff hosts an annual spaghetti dinner to support this endeavor, an event for a good cause that the staff is passionate about coupled with its desire to give back to the community.

“Cancer does not discriminate. There are so many people affected by cancer in all walks of life -- rich or poor, old or young,” said Jen Livingston, SPAAR’s 2024 president-elect and a Realtor® with Cardinal, which has been a locally-owned real estate business for three generations and serves people who seek to buy, sell, build or remodel their home. In fact, it was brother and sister Tom and Deanna Wiener’s father who acquired the company in the 1960s; Tom and Deanna grew up in the business and are still instrumental in its work and successes today.

As for Cardinal’s annual spaghetti dinner event, which initially started 2005 in support of a family friend with Lou Gehrig’s disease, the fundraiser had such a great turnout the very first year that the staff decided to continue with it, now in its 17th year; there were three years this event wasn’t held since it began. To date, Cardinal has raised $54,000!

Jen said Cardinal Realty held a fish fry event for a few years, but determined spaghetti was easier, more universally accepted and could feed more people. In addition, they wanted to make the most money possible for the American Cancer Society.

“We took a two-year break during Covid,” Jen added. “The event returned due to popular demand. It was missed by the people, including the local high school kids who help bus all the tables. The students take part in “Relay for Life” and have a team they work with so 100% of the money they make goes to them, raising money for a cancer cure.”

There are also raffle prizes; in fact, the 25 or so quality items include a TV, Rumbas, Yeti coolers, gift cards, and a wine pull. Everything is donated so all the proceeds support the high school kids and their “Relay for Life” team.

As for the spaghetti dinner, it’s a high-quality meal with the sauce from the famous Mama’s on Rice Street, along with meatballs and breadsticks.

This year’s event is on Friday, October 18, from 4:30-7:30pm at Hope Church located at 7910-15th Street North in Oakdale. The tickets are $15 per person and are all you can eat; payment is cash or check. Tickets may be purchased at Cardinal Realty or through a Cardinal Realtor®. Questions? Call the Cardinal Realty office at (651) 739-8033.

Congratulations, Cardinal Realty, on being named a SPAAR Hero! Your community involvement has made a great impact for so many.

SPAAR Hero is a program of SPAAR’s Community Engagement Committee, sponsored by SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. Members of SPAAR’s Communications Committee interview and write the SPAAR Hero articles, including this interview by Susan Mall.

Know someone who should be named a SPAAR Hero? Email spaar@spaar.com so the next SPAAR Hero can be identified.