The National Association of REALTORS® named Shawnee Doherty a finalist in the 2026 Good Neighbor Awards.

Doherty, an agent with United Real Estate Specialists in Phoenix, has been involved with the March of Dimes charitable organization since 2005, when her daughter was born prematurely and survived for only 14 hours.

“It helps you to deal with the grief to be around other families who’ve been through that, because anytime you go through a traumatic experience, if you can lean on other people, it helps,” Doherty told NAR.

Then, in 2016, Doherty’s son was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, an aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer. He passed away in January 2017. Doherty again turned to advocacy, establishing the Hope Through Hollis Foundation with her husband.

“That really was what fueled us because that was such a huge part of who we were,” Doherty said. “Funding for research, fighting for advocacy — but also doing it with a group of other people who come along beside you and help hold up your arms and push you forward.”

Today, The Hope Through Hollis Foundation honors Doherty’s son, Hollis, by raising awareness for DIPG, funding research and partnering with the Translational Genomics Research Institute, an organization that was involved in Hollis’ treatment. TGen President Wendy Nelson said Doherty’s efforts have raised around $2 million over the past 10 years.

With her Hope Through Hollis Foundation, Shawnee Doherty (pictured third from the left) has raised $2 million for the Translational Genomics Research Institute, an organization that was instrumental in her son’s care during his battle with pediatric brain cancer. (via NAR)

Part of Doherty’s advocacy includes reaching out to families with a new DIPG diagnosis. She also works with lawmakers, and her foundation’s annual golf tournament brings DIPG families together.

“I look at the March of Dimes and everything they’ve done and think that because of all the research, the babies even born at 21 weeks are now surviving,” Doherty said. “That’s why I keep thinking, if we keep fighting, if we get other families involved, maybe one day we’ll see kids with DIPG have true hope.”

Doherty is one of 10 finalists in NAR’s 27th annual Good Neighbor Awards. Five winners will receive a $10,000 grant, while the other five honorable mentions will receive a $2,500 grant.

Voting is open until Oct. 24. The finalist with the most votes will receive an additional $2,500 for their charity, while two runners-up will receive an additional $1,250. Winners will be announced on Oct. 27.

“This year’s 10 Good Neighbor Award finalists truly embody the spirit of service by going above and beyond to strengthen their communities, and we are proud to showcase the remarkable impact they have made,” Anna Marie Catiglioni, head of Realtor.com Next, said in a press release. “We encourage everyone to join us in celebrating these local heroes by casting their vote for the Web Choice Favorite, which allows us to further amplify the powerful work they are doing to change lives.”