Author(s): Trainor Fairbrook
On behalf of the firm, Charles Trainor presented the 15th Annual Humanitarian of the Year Award to Marvin L. “Buzz” Oates of Buzz Oates Enterprises at the Broker of the Year Awards on March 24, 2011.
This award was established to recognize and honor the Sacramento area commercial real estate professional who has made the most significant individual contribution to charitable or philanthropic organizations or other community activities. In conjunction with this award, our firm makes a $5,000 contribution to the charity selected by the honoree.
This year’s award recipient Buzz Oates has supported our community’s charitable organizations for many years with little recognition. The list of charities that Mr. Oates has supported over the years are too numerous to name, but most recently he has provided financial support to the Jenna and Patrick’s Foundation of Hope, UC Davis Medical Center, Oziku Foundation, Agape International Mission, Project Rescue Mission in Mumbai, Mercy Ministries of America and many faith-based organizations. Mr. Oates was instrumental in building the Mercy Ministries of America’s Sacramento location which opened in 2009. Mercy Ministries provide hope and healing to generations of desperate young women who are seeking freedom from life-controlling issues including physical and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders and sex trafficking.
For the Humanitarian Award contribution Mr. Oates selected the Jenna and Patrick’s Foundation of Hope, which was also this year’s event beneficiary. The Foundation’s mission is to support and promote research, to find a cure or treatment for Cystinosis, and provide support to affected individuals and families. Cystinosis is a rare metabolic disease that affects approximately 500 people in the United States (mostly children), and about 2,000 people worldwide.
The Broker of the Year event has become the largest annual celebration of its kind in Northern California recognizing the accomplishments of the Greater Sacramento commercial real estate community. Awards are given in six categories: apartments, industrial, investments, land, office and retail. A “Broker of the Year” is also selected. A portion of the proceeds this year benefited the Jenna and Patrick’s Foundation of Hope.