Meet 2025 GAAR Good Neighbor Evan Sanderson

For REALTOR® Evan Sanderson, real estate is more than a profession—it’s an opportunity to give back to the community he serves.

For the past decade, Evan has dedicated his time, resources, and leadership to supporting local organizations and New Mexico families in need. At the heart of that commitment is his work with Los Ojos de la Familia, a nonprofit that provides scholarships, grants, food, clothing, and direct assistance to families facing difficult circumstances.

As a board member, Evan takes an active role in supporting the organization’s mission. Each year, he helps organize and deliver its Holiday Gift Basket Program, providing local families with food, clothing, and other essentials during the holiday season. He also volunteers at community events, helps raise awareness, and encourages others to get involved.

But one of the most unique ways Evan gives back combines his passion for service with his experience in real estate.

Flipping Homes for a Cause

Each year, Evan and his team at Duke City Property Investments purchase a fixer-upper, renovate the property, and sell it as part of their annual Charity Flip. Rather than keeping the proceeds, they donate 100% of the profits to a local charitable organization.

Los Ojos de la Familia has been a major beneficiary of those efforts, allowing Evan to turn the skills and resources he has developed throughout his career into meaningful support for families across New Mexico.

His involvement goes far beyond the final donation. Evan invests countless hours into each project, helping coordinate everything from the acquisition and renovation of the property to its eventual sale.

His support is part of a much larger community effort that has enabled Los Ojos de la Familia to provide assistance to thousands of families, award more than 100 scholarships, distribute more than $1 million in general aid, and provide nearly 700,000 meals to families across New Mexico and Arizona.

Bringing Others Along

Evan has also used his leadership positions to bring more people into that mission of giving.

As President of the Apartment Association of New Mexico, he has helped connect the organization’s professional community with charitable causes. In 2024, the Association’s annual Charity Gala raised more than $25,000 for Los Ojos de la Familia, demonstrating what can happen when industry leaders rally around a shared cause.

That same spirit carries into Evan’s commitment to education and mentorship. He organizes monthly real estate meet-ups and workshops to create opportunities for REALTORS® and investors to learn from one another, build relationships, and grow professionally.

For Evan, strengthening the people around him is another way to strengthen the community as a whole.

Leading Through Service

Whether he is renovating a home for charity, delivering holiday baskets, raising funds, mentoring other real estate professionals, or volunteering at a community event, Evan has made service a consistent part of both his personal and professional life.

And according to those who work alongside him, recognition has never been the goal. When approached about being nominated for the Good Neighbor Award, Evan initially resisted. His motivation has always been much simpler: finding ways to help.

That dedication to giving his time, talents, and resources is why GAAR is proud to recognize REALTOR® Evan Sanderson as a 2025 Good Neighbor Award recipient.

Through a decade of service, Evan has shown how one person can use their profession, leadership, and connections to create opportunities for others—and inspire more people to give back along the way.

Ways to Help

1. Make a Donation: Support Los Ojos de la Familia by donating through their PayPal. If you wish to make a donation via credit card or in a different manner, you can reach them at 505-362-6073.
2. Volunteer with Ojos de la Familia: If you are interested in serving as a volunteer with Los Ojos de la Familia, email them for more information: join@losojosdelafamilia.org.
3. Sponsor the Holiday Gift Basket Program: You can find more information and sponsor forms on their website: https://www.losojosdelafamilia.org/forms/