July 31, 2023
At first glance it may be a bit head-scratching as to why St. Louis-based real estate company Trophy Properties and Auction, known primarily for selling farms and hunting properties, would become consistent corporate sponsors of City Academy events. However, as Creative Director and Realtor Jake Brown tells it, supporting an educational institution like City Academy was an easy decision.
“We tell our agents it’s important to be involved in your community and try to improve it,” Jake said. “We also believe in strong relationships with our clients and building a network of resources to help them long-term with anything they need and City Academy is doing that same thing on an obviously more important level. Instead of selling properties, they’re changing lives.”
Jake and his parents Phil and Sandy Brown, a Broker/Partner and Marketing Director/Realtor respectively with the company, were first introduced to City Academy six years ago by Stuart Campbell, a long-time family friend, and now the company’s Chief Financial Officer. Campbell sits on City Academy’s Board of Trustees and has been responsible for introducing numerous people to the school.
“We have a saying in our office and in our lives really — when Stuart gives you advice, you listen,” Jake said. Campbell gave the Browns a tour of the school, which was an experience Jake still remembers vividly.
“My first time at City Academy, a 6-year-old stopped me in the hallway to shake my hand and ask me what book I was reading in my spare time. I will never forget that and I tell that story to people to describe what City Academy is like.”
The Brown family soon got involved on a personal level through donations and volunteering. Trophy Properties and Auction then began sponsoring the annual Trivia Night in 2021. Jake also volunteered to help produce a promotional video for City Academy and then joined the Friends Board in 2022. What Jake enjoys most about the Friends Board is the hands-on opportunities to support the school and its scholars.
“The friends board is made up of people that really want to make a difference for the school and they show up and they get involved,” Jake said. “We have actual opportunities to volunteer our time and interact with the kids at the school and that makes it fun. You can actually see where your efforts and investment are going.”
While Trophy Properties and Auction’s motivation for sponsoring Trivia Night is philanthropic in nature, Jake says there’s an added bonus in that the evening is such a blast and allows for opportunities to visit with others who support the school.
“Call it networking, whatever, it’s just fun to meet like-minded people in the St. Louis area that believe in investing in these kids.”
Jake believes that any company looking for a way to make a difference in St. Louis should look at City Academy.
“If you love St. Louis and want to make it a better place, that starts with an investment in future generations with education,” Jake said. “When you interact with the kids, the impact that your donation has is just undeniable. I see an investment in City Academy as an investment in the future of St. Louis.”