WESTERVILLE, OH – Today Champion Real Estate Services took home an award for its community engagement efforts during the Conway Center for Family Business Awards luncheon at the Hilton Columbus at Easton.

In addition to the community engagement award, the Conway Center also honored Champion for its 5-Year Milestone as a company.

“Community engagement has been woven into our core values at Champion, so we are honored to be recognized for our efforts,” said Michelle Yeager-Thornton, co-founder and COO of Champion. “And to top that off with special recognition for our fifth year in business makes us very proud.”

Not only does Champion get its employees involved in the community, by bowling for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, or serving meals at the YWCA Family Center, but it also uses its large network of apartment residents to make an impact.

“Our Round Up Your Rent Program through the Champion Cares Foundation gives each of our residents the opportunity to round up their rent $1 per month to donate to our partner charities,” Yeager-Thornton said. “That can add up fast with nearly 5,000 apartments, and Champion also matches each $1 donation.”

In 2015 alone, Champion has donated more than $137,000 back to the Central Ohio community through its various philanthropic initiatives.

The Conway Center Awards Program was established in 1999 to celebrate the success of family businesses in Central Ohio and is attended by more than 400 Central Ohio community and family business leaders. The other award categories include: Communication, Lifetime Achievement, Re-Invention, Succession Planning/Implementation and the Legacy Award.

Champion was founded in 2010 by brother-sister duo Brian Yeager and Michelle Yeager-Thornton, and has grown exponentially each year, landing in the Top 10 of the Columbus Business First Fast 50 list four years in a row from 2011.

“The Central Ohio community has allowed us to sustain major growth over our past five years in business,” said Brian Yeager, Champion’s president and CEO. “So we will continue to make giving back to this community a priority and a core value at Champion.”