At the May 9 breakfast meeting of the Sandy Springs Business Association, Christine Harper, representing breakfast sponsor Heineck & Co., told the group how important it was to her to have police officers, fire fighters, paramedics and teachers as her neighbors.

She told the story of visiting her family and attending a church festival when her son needed emergency help. “If it weren’t for an EMT trained priest, an emergency room nurse and a police officer, my son wouldn’t be here today.

“This experience combined with my career in residential real estate made me think of a valuable lesson I learned some time ago,” she told the group. “Don’t just complain, have a solution.”

The HERO program is the solution offered by Jill Heineck and Harper at Heineck & Co.

HERO stands for healthcare, educators, rescue, officers—four fields in which the two women feel workers are not adequately paid for the services they provide the community.

Community businesses are joining together to show appreciation to everyday heroes by encouraging home ownership in the community, through free products, services and discounts.

As part of the program, Heineck & Co. credits back to the HERO home buyer or seller $1,000 of its commission on the sale at closing.

But, in addition, they have helped line up 20 plus businesses to contribute to the program, such as special loan programs for teachers, first responders and nurses, free moving boxes and discounted rates for moving, free termite inspections, free gym memberships, discounted homeowner’s insurance, discounted closing costs and even a box of chocolate covered cherries at closing.

Heineck & Co., which has its offices at 200 Glenridge Point Parkway, is active in both the Sandy Springs Business Association and the Buckhead Business Association, where Jill Heineck is chair of the membership committee. Therefore, the agency offers the HERO program both in Sandy Springs and in Atlanta.

The Keller Williams affiliated real estate firm is still seeking other businesses to participate — even those not associated with real estate — to possibly provide a dinner or two, a massage or some other gift for a HERO.

For information, contact Heineck or

Harper at 404-561-5121.

— John Schaffner