Press Releases

2,500 Silicon Valley Realtors® Charitable Foundation grant presented to Youth Community Service

- For Immediate Release -

Cupertino, CA - The Silicon Valley Realtors® Charitable Foundation presented a $2,500 grant to Youth Community Service at the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® Palo Alto District tour meeting last week. Palo Alto District Chair Julia Keady presented the check to Leif Erickson, executive director of Youth Community Service in Palo Alto.

Youth Community Service promotes the ethic of service, fosters youth leadership, builds community and enhances education by providing community service, service learning, and leadership activities to underserved students in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Palo Alto in grades K-12.

The Charitable Foundation grant will enable YCS to meet expenses for educational, meeting and service project supplies to support weekly school-based service and leadership clubs in local schools. YCS trains student leaders at each school to reach out to their peers to benefit the community with tutoring projects, visits to seniors, environmental restoration, food drives, and more.

Erickson told SILVAR members YCS works with youth from six middle schools and three high schools. “They do tutoring, coaching, training in leadership skills, visit seniors and serve them meals, so they learn to value participation in positive ways to the community.”

Erickson thanked Realtors and affiliates for their support through the years. “I can’t imagine a group like you who is more in touch with the community’s pulse, with the comings and goings of this community. I thank you all for your support,” he said.

“At a time when youth violence is on the rise, the need for positive alternatives is acute. Thank you to all SILVAR members who generously donate to the Charitable Foundation,” said Keady. “Thank you to all of you who have contributed in so many different ways. It’s not lost on me that everyone has participated at all important levels, by contributing money, volunteering and helping people in many ways.”

This grant was made possible in part by a sponsorship from Red Hawk Real Estate.

The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, e-mail , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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