We love Larry Giddings
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Over the course of my career, I have met a few gay men in the industry that helped shape my perspective on life and worth. One of them is Larry Giddings. Like the older brother that I never had, Larry is the guy you go to when you need to feel seen. He has this innate ability to validate where you are as well as help you focus on where you need to go in life. It’s no mistake that he was THE managing broker for the first real estate office in Illinois to surpass $1,000,000,000 in sales production.
Most Realtors go into this business with the mindset of “sales.” Larry flipped the script and took aspects of his former career in education and journalism to weave this new mindset of what role a REALTOR can be for the community. It became about service. How can we educate everyone around us? Oprah famously said, “Life is a classroom.” So Larry Giddings, in all his wisdom, showed us through example how to be present for others through accountability and compassion.
Larry volunteers his time and energy more-so than anyone I have ever encountered before. To me, it felt like there wasn’t a Board he was not a part of. He worked with the Blind Service Association, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Lyric Opera, the @properties Friends and Neighbors Community Fund (which is where I met him) as well as receiving the Lori Kaufman Volunteer of the Year award from the AIDS Foundation of Chicago for his work there.
After battling and surviving cancer in 2019, Larry had a stroke this spring and was in the hospital. After a stint in Shirly Ryan, he is now going through rehab at the William Barr Center in Lincoln Park. He is working on regaining movement in his right leg and arm and is on the road to recovery.
Right now, a lot is up in the air with my friend. I’ve talked with Larry and connected with his niece in Texas. Our goal is to raise enough money that Larry doesn’t have to worry about work for the foreseeable future. I want to know that he is solely focusing on his recovery, his health, and where he will live once he gets out of rehab.
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." – C.S. Lewis.
I can't wait to see what Larry does with this next chapter in his life. More importantly, it's up to us in the Real Estate Community to follow the example he has set for the last several years. He has spent decades raising money for so many causes. I think it’s time we show Larry how much we appreciate and love him by flipping the script as well.
With admiration,
Stephen Hnatow - Broker
I came to know the AFC casually through a work colleague, but I’ve stayed involved for the past twelve years because of people like Larry Giddings. Larry is an inspiration in many ways, both personally and professionally, but it’s his commitment to giving back that stands out. He is passionate, empathetic, and relentless in his work to help those who need it. He serves without ego and is able to connect with and across groups of people to inform and mobilize them toward action. Any organization would be lucky to have Larry in their corner, and I’m grateful to serve alongside him at AFC, learning from his expertise and humanity at every step.
Sincerely,
Ben Stringfellow - Board Member of AIDS Foundation Chicago
Most Realtors go into this business with the mindset of “sales.” Larry flipped the script and took aspects of his former career in education and journalism to weave this new mindset of what role a REALTOR can be for the community. It became about service. How can we educate everyone around us? Oprah famously said, “Life is a classroom.” So Larry Giddings, in all his wisdom, showed us through example how to be present for others through accountability and compassion.
Larry volunteers his time and energy more-so than anyone I have ever encountered before. To me, it felt like there wasn’t a Board he was not a part of. He worked with the Blind Service Association, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Lyric Opera, the @properties Friends and Neighbors Community Fund (which is where I met him) as well as receiving the Lori Kaufman Volunteer of the Year award from the AIDS Foundation of Chicago for his work there.
After battling and surviving cancer in 2019, Larry had a stroke this spring and was in the hospital. After a stint in Shirly Ryan, he is now going through rehab at the William Barr Center in Lincoln Park. He is working on regaining movement in his right leg and arm and is on the road to recovery.
Right now, a lot is up in the air with my friend. I’ve talked with Larry and connected with his niece in Texas. Our goal is to raise enough money that Larry doesn’t have to worry about work for the foreseeable future. I want to know that he is solely focusing on his recovery, his health, and where he will live once he gets out of rehab.
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." – C.S. Lewis.
I can't wait to see what Larry does with this next chapter in his life. More importantly, it's up to us in the Real Estate Community to follow the example he has set for the last several years. He has spent decades raising money for so many causes. I think it’s time we show Larry how much we appreciate and love him by flipping the script as well.
With admiration,
Stephen Hnatow - Broker
I came to know the AFC casually through a work colleague, but I’ve stayed involved for the past twelve years because of people like Larry Giddings. Larry is an inspiration in many ways, both personally and professionally, but it’s his commitment to giving back that stands out. He is passionate, empathetic, and relentless in his work to help those who need it. He serves without ego and is able to connect with and across groups of people to inform and mobilize them toward action. Any organization would be lucky to have Larry in their corner, and I’m grateful to serve alongside him at AFC, learning from his expertise and humanity at every step.
Sincerely,
Ben Stringfellow - Board Member of AIDS Foundation Chicago
Organizer
Jennifer Giddings Nicholson
Organizer
Chicago, IL