Realtors® Are Good Neighbors: Debbie McCabe

Last year, Debbie McCabe slept out on the field at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, to raise awareness and funds for youth experiencing homelessness. This November, she’ll do it again. 

McCabe, a member of Tri-County Suburban Realtors®, has served for over a decade on the board of Covenant House Pennsylvania, an organization dedicated to helping young people experiencing homelessness find safety, stability and a path toward independence. Covenant House provides shelter, education, job training and counseling, helping these young people rebuild their lives and move forward. In 2022, McCabe was a finalist for the National Association of Realtors® Good Neighbor Awards. 

“I was drawn to Covenant House because the need is so real in our own community,” McCabe shares. “Many of these young people have faced unimaginable challenges, yet with the right support and encouragement, they can build successful and independent futures. Covenant House believes every young person deserves unconditional love, respect and opportunity, and that mission deeply resonates with me.” 

Last November, she organized a Realtor® team for the organization’s annual “Sleep Out,” where participants slept on the Phillies field to advocate and raise money for the cause. 

“What started as a small effort has grown into a powerful movement within our industry,” she says. “Over the years, our Realtor® team – made up of professionals from many different brokerages in our area – has raised more than $750,000 for Covenant House, including $107,000 this past year alone.” 

“Realtors® are deeply connected to the communities we serve,” McCabe adds. “Our work goes beyond buying and selling homes – we help people build their lives in the neighborhoods where they live, work and raise their families.” 

“Because of the relationships we develop in this profession, Realtors® are uniquely positioned to bring people together for causes that matter. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to mobilize colleagues, clients and community members to support organizations like Covenant House. I also sit on multiple local boards that support the community I work and live in.”  

“The Realtor® community is incredibly generous and collaborative,” she says. “When we unite around a cause – like our annual Sleep Out team – we can raise significant awareness and resources while also reminding people that strong communities depend on caring neighbors. That spirit of service is something I believe is at the heart of our profession.” 

McCabe encourages her fellow Realtors® and community members to get involved as well, whether that’s for Covenant House’s cause or another one that they’re passionate about.  

“Start by getting involved with something that truly matters to you. When you care about the mission, the work never feels like an obligation – it becomes a privilege.” 

“Realtors® have an incredible ability to make an impact because of the networks we build throughout our careers. When you invite others to join you – whether that’s volunteering, fundraising or simply sharing a cause – you multiply the impact.” 

“You don’t have to do everything, but you can do something,” she says. “When professionals in a community step forward to help those who need it most, the ripple effect can be extraordinary.”