Placing people ahead of money is the model upon which Life Changes Realty Group's business is based.

"We're really community focused," said Jonathan Cross, a Manheim Township resident who's been employed by Life Changes Realty Group for two years. "It's why I'm part of this group. It's the reason I probably won't sell houses for anybody else. Money comes and goes, and I've only got so much time in this life. The question is, 'What am I doing with my time?'"

Life Changes Realty Group employs 22 realtors and expediates the sales of properties across Lancaster County. Adopting the company's pay-it-forward program is one of the stipulations for employment.

When a Life Changes Realty Group realtor assists with the sale of a property, he or she is compelled to donate 10% of their commission to the nonprofit of their client's choice. The charities must have local impact and not be associated with political campaigns or politics.

"We're not a national brand; we're based in Lancaster County," said Cross. "We don't accept just anybody. The pay-it-forward program is mandatory when we come on board. Everybody told me how much money I was going to make in real estate. But Brittany (Garner, owner) told me about how much money I was going to give away. We all do it together. It's important to all of us.

"I've got bills too," added Cross. "I'm not a flashy person. I'm not necessarily doing this to make big bucks. At the end of the day, it's really satisfying giving someone keys to their first house. I help people get into their homes, and that's very satisfying."

From 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Penn Medicine Park, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster, Life Changes Realty Group will host a celebratory community outreach/fundraising event called Million Reasons Festival. The fair will recognize the $1 million that Life Changes Realty Group has donated to charities impacting Lancaster County.

The free event will include food trucks, an artisans' market, a cornhole tournament, other games, a dunk tank, face painting and bounce houses, and the kids' area at Penn Medicine Park will be open for play.

"Buying a house is the biggest financial decision that most people make," said Cross. "When I meet people and give them my spiel, I talk about the pay-it-forward program. It demonstrates the service over the sale. As a sales tactic, it works out great. Clients will say, 'Oh, I really like that.'"

Through the pay-it-forward program, it's taken Life Changes Realty Group 13 years to reach the $1 million donation milestone. Cross' contribution to that sum is more than $4,000 of take-home pay.

"It's incredible how we've been able to do it, especially as piecemeal," said Cross. "There's a snowball effect with that. It just adds up in pieces. It's like drips in a bucket, and now the bucket is overflowing."

At the request of their clients, Life Changes Realty Group has donated funds to more than 70 causes and nonprofits, including SWAN 4 Kids, animal shelters, St. John Neumann Catholic Church's Off the Streets program, Gamers Outreach, the Alzheimer's Association, Building Bridges Foundation, North Star Initiative, Lancaster Conservancy, Power Packs Project and education foundations.

"It spans the gamut," said Cross. "There are so many great causes that I can't name all the ones we give to, and I hadn't heard of most of them."

Life Changes Realty Group operates offices at 3002 Hempland Road, Suite 2, Lancaster; at 206 S. Market St., Suite 113, Elizabethtown; and at 141 N. Main St., Suite F, Bel Air, Md.

For additional information, go to http://www.lifechangesrealtygroup.com.