You may be wondering why we changed our name to Branches Real Estate? We wanted to create a name and logo that allows us to tell our story, so I hope you don’t mind if we do just that.
People may focus on the parts of trees that they can see, but the real importance is what lies beneath – the roots. One of the most critical roles roots play is anchoring the tree. A good, healthy, and well-developed root system will anchor a tree for many years.
Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People (ESOP) was founded in 1993 by the late Inez Killingworth, a community organizer and Purpose Prize honoree who realized that the solution to many neighborhood challenges could be found by engaging community members. In its early days as the East Side Organizing Project, ESOP used community activism to combat predatory lending and other disreputable financial practices in Cleveland neighborhoods.
As the organization evolved into Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People, ESOP shifted focus to provide individuals with the knowledge and tools they needed to ensure their financial wellness and housing stability. ESOP has helped more than 65,000 homeowners across Ohio save their homes from foreclosure.
In an interview for the Purpose Prize, Ms. Killingsworth said she wanted to make sure ESOP sticks to its roots: helping people solve the problems they need to solve.
The trunk provides structural support for the branches and serves as the bridge to transfer nutrients between the roots and the leaves.
In recent years, ESOP developed the Senior Financial Empowerment Initiative. The commitment to helping older adults achieve financial wellness and housing stability was enhanced in 2017, when ESOP became part of Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, a nonprofit organization founded in 1908 to advance support for older adults and caregivers.
The trunk of our tree symbolizes the bridge that provides our homeowners access to other resources and services provided by ESOP, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, and our collaborating partners.
In 2014, ESOP introduced a subsidiary social enterprise, ESOP Realty. ESOP Realty is Ohio’s first non-profit, full-service real estate agency. Our agents are not paid commissions. They are paid hourly or salary to ensure that all clients receive the same high-quality level of service whether buying or selling a $40,000 or $400,000 home. Our agents specialize in helping home buyers purchase their first homes, assisting older adults gracefully transition out of their last homes, and empowering and equipping all buyers and sellers to thrive in their neighborhoods and not just live in their homes!
In the beginning of 2021, ESOP Realty rebranded as Branches Real Estate. The branches of the tree provide the canopy or shelter, which represents our homes. Branches Real Estate helps make the dream of homeownership available and sustainable to more members of our community.
Trees have a positive impact on communities and give us a place to ground ourselves and connect with the environment. Branches plants one tree for each home sold, and these trees act as a reminder of what inspires our initiatives.
We hope that if you or someone you know is looking for an experienced real estate professional and are looking for an opportunity to give back to your community, you will consider Branches Real Estate!