Tower Agency agents present a check to Rebirth Homes during a previous year's community giving initiative. The human trafficking survivor support organization won Tower's 2025 Giving Tuesday community vote, receiving $2,500 as the top vote-getter. (Courtesy of Tower Agency)
Rebirth Homes will receive $2,500 as the top vote-getter in Tower Agency's Giving Tuesday community challenge, which distributed $5,000 among three Riverside nonprofits based on public voting that closed Monday evening.
Co-owners Lauren Sawyer and Brent Lee structured the challenge to let their more than 70 agents help decide where the $5,000 would go, with the Riverside community making the final selection.
The human trafficking survivor support organization edged out the Mission Inn Foundation and Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center in the 10-day voting campaign that asked the Riverside community to decide how Tower Agency should distribute its annual Giving Tuesday contribution.
"This isn't just Brent and me deciding. It's more than 70 agents who contribute to the Tower Agency fund with every transaction they close," said Lauren Sawyer, owner of Tower Agency. "Everybody should have a voice in what's important to them."
The Mission Inn Foundation will receive $1,500 for second place, while Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center receives $1,000 for third place.
Rebirth Homes is one of few organizations in the Inland Empire offering long-term residential care combined with employment for survivors of human trafficking. Founded in 2012, the nonprofit provides a two-year program focused on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing, and has served close to 140 women since 2017.
"The $2,500 donation will make a big impact directly in the lives of survivors of human trafficking," said Debbie Martis, CEO and founder of Rebirth Homes. "Since our long-term residential program is privately funded, we rely on private donations to fund everything needed for healing during our two-year program, including employment in our Freedom Shop."
"Rebirth Homes, a life-changing organization providing safety, healing and hope for survivors of human trafficking," Lee said.
The Mission Inn Foundation preserves Riverside's history through tours, exhibits, and educational programs.
"They work tirelessly to protect Riverside's history, our traditions and the storytelling that makes Riverside unique."
The Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center has operated as one of the region's few no-kill shelters since 1897.
"They rescue, heal and place thousands of pets in loving homes right here in our community."
The selection of this year's three nonprofits came directly from Tower's agents. Jennifer Gamble, who serves as president of the Mission Inn Foundation, is a Tower agent who has devoted countless hours to the organization. Sarah Ayala, another Tower agent, is deeply involved with Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Rebirth Homes emerged from a sales meeting discussion when agent Kelly Alfaro shared the organization's mission with colleagues.
"I'm thankful for the Riverside community for taking time to vote and for partnering with Rebirth Homes to help fight human trafficking," Martis said. "I love our community and I'm grateful to be a part of it."
"Our company was founded on investing back into the communities that we serve, and we have done that since 1989," Sawyer said. "Generosity is part of our office culture and it is one of our core values that everyone who joins our office buys into. Our entire office is committed to giving their time supporting their communities, sharing their talents to build stronger neighborhoods, and donating a portion of their earnings to support area nonprofits. We are proud of the culture we've built at Tower, it makes us a better team professionally and personally."
The agency has supported organizations including Veterans Housing Alliance, The Riverside Arts Academy, Rebirth Homes, The Arc of Riverside, Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Services, the RUSD Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire, Inspire Life Skills Training, Convoy of Restoration, and Voices for Children. In 2023, they donated their largest amount: $10,000.
