'Kiss and ride' mom wins Realtors Care Award

Nikki Koziski doesn't know what all the fuss is about.

"It's just what I do. I do what I can to help the community," said the Royal LePage West Kelowna realtor and volunteer extraordinaire.

"I don't think it's anything special, so I keep it low-key and I certainly don't publicize it. It's not my style."

Regardless, someone, Koziski doesn't know for sure, but thinks it might be her mother, nominated her for the annual Realtors Care award for the Central Okanagan region of the Association of Interior Realtors.

And Koziski won.

Koziski's mom is fellow realtor Barb van Steenoven, who is also her real estate-selling and volunteer partner.

"My mom is my mom, my business partner, a big volunteer herself and a great role model," said Koziski.

Koziski does lots of volunteering, but what seemed to clinch the Realtors Care Award for her was sponsoring an entire family in need this past Christmas by providing turkey dinner and gifts for all.

Koziski is also what's called a 'Kiss and Ride' mom -- someone who stands on the sidewalk outside Shannon Lake Elementary School and helps kids out of the cars they arrive in so parents don't have to search for parking.

She also volunteers with the Kelowna Womens' Shelter.

In the past she's rounded up friends, relatives, associates and anyone else in the community who wants to get involved to take part in a weight-loss challenge before Christmas.

Everyone pitches in some cash to participate and the money is used to buy gifts that are put under the Christmas tree at the Kelowna Womens' Shelter for moms and kids.

Koziski helps her mom ring the bells for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign and helps Royal LePage Fill the Van with food and gifts, also for the Salvation Army.

She also teaches Sunday school at her church.

But probably most importantly, Koziski is a constantly good person who is the first to drop off a coffee to cheer someone up and the first to bring a meal or coordinate cleaning, running errands or other help for anyone in need.

Koziski is keeping good company in the Realtors Care winners circle.

Past winners for the Central Okanagan include Camille Steele of Royal LePage Kelowna in 2020 for donating one of her kidneys to a family friend; Darryl Reuter of Royal LePage Kelowna in 2019 for fundraisers with a fun twist, such has shaving off just half his beard to benefit the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation and getting a fire-breathing unicorn tattoo to drum up cash for Motionball; and Jane Hoffman of Coldwell Banker, who contributes to Central Okanagan Hospice, Make A Wish, BC Cancer Foundation, United Way and Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.