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Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) Charitable Foundation Contributes Over $300,000 to Local Charities in 2005Monday, February 6, 2006
Cupertino, California -- Topping of a record year in fundraising and donations, the Silicon Valley Realtors® (SILVAR) Charitable Foundation has provided financial support to over 20 different charities in the South Bay and on the Peninsula. Through a series of events, the Association's Realtor® Foundation has raised and contributed more than $300,000. "This year, and in previous years, the Charitable Foundation has distributed money to more than 20 community groups to support their grassroots service to our communities," said Foundation President Dennis Young, an affiliate member of SILVAR. 2005 Beneficiaries of the Realtor® Foundation include: AchieveKids, Community Services Agency, Design Response, Students Rising Above, YMCA of the Mid-Peninsula, Palo Alto Community Child Care, Project Read-California Literacy Campaign, the Volunteer Center, Future Families, InnVision, Mountain View Public Library, YES Reading and the Housing Industry Foundation (HIF). Special consideration is given to charities that focus on education or housing issues. "The real estate industry is about building community," noted Young. "Realtors understand the importance housing and schools play in the development of that community. The Realtor Foundation leverages the contributions of our members to support frontline organizations who work toward a shared goal of increasing access to education and ensuring that all members of our community can achieve the American Dream of Homeownership." SILVAR Realtors raised the funds through individual donations and a variety of charitable events throughout the year. One of the year's biggest fundraisers is the annual Home for the Holidays party. Held each fall, this event was started several years ago by a group of Realtors who were eager to support the Housing Industry Foundation (HIF), an industry-based organization whose mission is to help individuals and families either remain in or return to stable housing and to assist with special housing projects or renovations in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. In 2005, Home for the Holidays was attended by more than 500 people and raised over $100,000. "SILVAR is playing a larger and larger role in HIF each year. The event is planned and organized by Realtors and has become a very popular annual event," said Deborah Wade, HIF's Executive Director. The money raised at these events goes directly back to the community and produces tangible results. For example, Armando, Gabriela and their five children were in serious need of assistance. Armando's employer had a family emergency in Mexico and Armando was left unemployed for two weeks. Then Gabriela slipped and fell at work, severely injuring her back. With no available source of income, the family was in serious danger of being evicted from their home. HIF provided the family assistance with their rent to help them stabilize their financial situation and stay in their home. With the assistance from HIF, Armando was able to return to work full-time and Gabriela is in physical therapy receiving treatment for her back. The Realtor Foundation also has a special interest in helping youth get the money they need to further their educational goals. To this end, SILVAR promotes higher education through the annual Scholarship program. This year, the Foundation recognized 18 outstanding graduating high school students in Silicon Valley, granting them money to study at prestigious universities such as Stanford and Harvard. SILVAR's Menlo Park/Atherton District, led by Realtors Lehua Greenman and Judi Kiel, raised $100,000 at a Hawaiian-themed dinner at the Menlo Circus Club featuring a silent auction which surpassed expectations with 250 guests attending. The fundraiser was for nonprofit Students Rising Above, a charity that helps low-income Bay Area high school seniors rising above tremendous odds get through college. Students are mentored through college and encouraged to give back to others. Realtor support will help hundreds of youth get the educational support they need and meet Students Rising Above's goal of changing communities by improving the lives of young people. "Real estate professionals on the Peninsula and the South Bay work to give back, often by donating their time and money to nonprofits like Students Rising Above. These organizations give people in need an extra boost and are the lifelines of our communities," said Lehua Greenman, an agent with Coldwell Banker in Woodside, and Chairwoman of the Menlo Park/Atherton District Council. In addition to their financial contributions, Realtors also volunteer their personal time through programs such as the Realtor Service Volunteer Program (RSVP), which sends Realtors into the community to help homebound and elderly people in need of extra assistance. Volunteers change light bulbs, help with home maintenance and perform other tasks that the elderly may not be able to perform on their own. RSVP was created and developed by SILVAR Realtors and now has been successfully duplicated in other California cities. From fundraising to volunteering, Realtors remain active in their communities and diligent in their goal to give back. As Young said, "Year after year Realtors support their communities - and the groups that make these communities stronger." » View this article in PDF Format 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. |
