Pete Gee, who you may know as a local dedicated real estate agent at RE/MAX, has an alter-ego, as most superheroes do: he’s also known as “The Shoe Guy.” He can be seen showing homes by day and collecting shoes and waste electronics at night to support his philanthropy, and it has truly become his superpower.
Pete has managed to seamlessly integrate his business with his passion for giving back, making a profound impact through his charitable efforts. A desire for change drove his journey into real estate after a successful 20-year career in environmental regulatory affairs and project management in the government sector. His career shift in 2014 at RE/MAX Alliance opened doors not just for himself but for those he could help as well.
“When you’re a real estate agent, you can help people sell their property, buy new homes, or purchase pre-owned homes. You can do so much more for, and with, the very same people you meet,” Pete shared. This realization marked the beginning of his transformative journey; a testament to how real estate can provide a platform to give back and weave community work into a daily routine. Pete recognized the multifaceted impact he could make.
“I learned from other agents. I would see other agents doing things for the community and how they were touching a larger number of people by community activities and I was inspired to find ways to contribute as well,” Pete says. While he was already participating in smaller-scale volunteer activities through his church and other efforts, the idea of a larger-scale impact appealed to him.
His first charitable initiative included a shoe drive, and later a waste electronics recycling program, which gradually expanded his philanthropic horizons. He explains, “The goal was always just to serve regardless of the outcome. I disassociate myself from the outcome just knowing that anything that I put into it is going to help someone out there.”
Through his shoe drive via Soles4Souls, Pete collected an astonishing 850 pairs of shoes in 2022, exceeding his initial goal by far. Soles4Souls is a nonprofit that channels shoes to individuals and small organizations in over 100 countries, aiding those facing educational barriers, participating in many relief programs, and working towards creating self-sufficiency in business. In countries such as Haiti and Honduras, 850 shoes can provide a month of food, shelter and education for 15 families.
Pete says this initiative appealed to him because the organization also trains people on how to sell shoes to develop a business skillset. In addition, the sustainability factor was also important because instead of throwing away shoes and having them end up in landfills a project like this can extend the life of shoes while also being beneficial to someone in need.
“I have an area in my basement of electronics and shoes; it’s funny. People will see me and say ‘Hey, aren’t you the shoe guy? Can you take these?’ If they ever get to know me as ‘the house guy or the real estate guy or the RE/MAX,’ that would be a cool bonus,” Pete laughed. Pete was also awarded the 2022 Cultural Icon Award for the RE/MAX Alliance Arvada office.
His waste electronics recycling program, which coincides with Earth Day, also promotes sustainability. Pete’s recycling efforts have expanded each year. This past April a total of 10,399 pounds of recycling waste, also known as E-waste, was collected. This breaks his previous record in 2022 by over 3,000 pounds, proving that real estate agents can play an influential role in shaping environmentally conscious communities.
To join Pete’s efforts, email petegeehomes@gmail.com or call 303-420-5352. If you’re in the market for a new home or have any real estate needs, please visit the RE/MAX Alliance office at 5440 Ward Road. Walk-in consultations are welcome and you can always drop off shoes.