Help Maria & Her Daughter with Life After a Devastating Fire

My name is Shane, a REALTOR® with 11 years of experience, and I’m reaching out to our community to help a woman who changed my life. Maria Rodriguez was my very first client when she trusted me to buy a home for her daughter in the area, putting up $55,000 of her own savings to give her daughter a safe place to live. That sale launched my real estate career, and Maria’s trust continued when she hired me again to sell her property in Dallas, making her a repeat client who helped build my success. Over the years, she became a friend. We’ve stayed in touch a few times a year, discussing properties that come up on market, and sharing moments like Thanksgiving pies, and she’s always held a special place in my heart.

On August 17, 2025, a massive fire tore through the 1200 block of Point Street in Little Elm, completely destroying Maria’s home and damaging two neighboring properties. Her house was fully engulfed, leaving Maria and her daughter with nothing—no belongings, no home, and no insurance to cover the loss. To make matters worse, Maria hasn’t been able to work recently due to health issues, halting her income from her cleaning business, which has long supported our community. They’re now staying with family, but they face an unimaginable road ahead.

We’re raising $22,000 to cover debris removal (so that we can prep to sell the lot as quickly as possible), immediate living expenses, and, if we somehow surpass the goal exceedingly, this could be a down payment on a new home for Maria. I understand times are tight for all of us... just know that every single dollar will go directly to Maria and her daughter to help them through this crisis - anything will help! As Maria’s friend and realtor, I’m committed to supporting her, just as she supported me at the start of my career. Please donate whatever you can and share this campaign with your friends and family. Together, we can help Maria, a generous and kind-hearted woman, find hope and a fresh start.

Source: Information about the Little Elm fire comes from Fox4News, published August 18, 2025.