For many, success is measured by career achievements, financial milestones, or personal accolades. But for Jonathan Duerr, success is about something deeper—faith, compassion, and the unwavering belief that true wealth is found in the lives we lift up along the way.
As a Senior Sales Executive with ONE Sotheby’s and ALBA Palm Beach, he has made his mark in luxury real estate, but beyond the polished properties and high-stakes negotiations, his true passion lies in serving others. For Jonathan, philanthropy isn’t a side project—it’s part of who he is.
Faith as His Foundation
Jonathan’s faith is the guiding force behind both his personal and professional life. It’s not just something he turns to in times of need but the foundation of how he approaches every decision, challenge, and opportunity.
That belief is something he shares with his fiancée, Naiomy, who he describes as his rock, his life and faith partner. Together, they embrace a philosophy of Faith, Family, and Philanthropy, recognizing that true success lies not in personal achievements, but in what we do for others.
A Legacy of Giving Inspired by Family
Jonathan’s heart for giving was shaped early on by his parents, Bart and Linda Duerr, who instilled in him the responsibility to serve others. His father, Bart, who passed away in October 2024 after a battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, was his greatest inspiration. A man of unshakable faith and selflessness, Bart spent his final months still attending physical therapy twice a week, church every Sunday, and making weekly visits to the New Smyrna Beach Boys & Girls Club.
"My dad showed me that no matter what life throws at you, you keep your faith, you keep showing up, and you keep giving," Jonathan reflects. That commitment to service now fuels his own dedication to philanthropy, ensuring that he carries forward his father’s legacy of faith-driven generosity.
Fork Cancer: A Mission That Hits Home
This year, Jonathan serves as Event Chair for the American Cancer Society’s Fork Cancer, honoring his father’s memory and his sisters still battling cancer. For him, it’s more than an event—it’s a mission to provide families facing cancer with the resources, support, and hope they need.
He leads fundraising, awareness initiatives, and community outreach, rallying his network to maximize impact. "Cancer doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed—it affects entire families. That’s why this fight is so personal," he says.
A Commitment to Service Beyond One Cause
While Fork Cancer holds special significance this year, Jonathan remains committed to other causes close to his heart. He continues to support Place of Hope, ensuring foster children have safe, loving homes, and his long-standing work with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has helped raise millions for cancer research and patient support.
Being a top real estate professional and a dedicated philanthropist requires long days and even longer nights, but for Jonathan, his work and mission go hand in hand. "Luckily, I run my own business, so I am able to do both at the same time," he says.
The legacy he hopes to leave is clear: "That I put others before myself. That I lived a life God has called us to live. That even if I only had an impact on one person, but it truly helped that person, it would be enough."
As he often reflects:
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."