Press Releases

Silicon Valley REALTORS(R) Charitable Foundation Donations Over $44,000 in 2010

At a recent Menlo Park/Atherton District meeting, the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation Trust presented $2,500 to the Westwind 4-H Riding Program for the Handicapped. Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation President Lisa Keith (right) presented the grant to Judy Lookabill, board member of the Westwind Riding Institute.

- For Immediate Release –

Cupertino, CA - The Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation donated $44,800 in 2010 to different non-profit organizations that help low-income individuals and families in Silicon Valley. The Charitable Foundation is a trust which makes grants available to organizations from donations by REALTORS®, affiliate members and friends of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR).

The grant recipients are from SILVAR’s five districts - Los Gatos/Saratoga, Cupertino/Sunnyvale, Los Altos/Mountain View, Palo Alto and Menlo Park/Atherton. The 2010 recipients include Abilities United (formerly Community Association for Rehabilitation), Assistant League of Los Gatos/Saratoga, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, Christmas Bureau of Palo Alto, Cleo Eulau Center, Community Health Awareness Council, East Palo Alto Kids Foundation, Family & Children Services-F&CS - (including FAST-Families and Schools Together), Friends for Youth, Friends of Deer Hollow Farm, Friends of Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, JustREAD (on Campus of Mountain View/Los Altos Union High School District), Kara, Reading Partners, Support Network for Battered Women, Via Services, Westwind 4-H Handicapped Riding Institute and Youth Community Services.

Also in 2010, as part of its Scholarship Program, the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation presented a $1,000 scholarship grant to each of 18 graduating seniors from public high schools in the Silicon Valley communities. 2010 is the 11^th year the Foundation has been assisting students with the scholarship grants.

“Local nonprofits have been hit hard by the weak economy and unemployment,” said 2010 Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation president Lisa Keith. “We thank our members and friends who, even in this difficult year, have been very generous with their donations.”

Non-profit organizations operating within the areas served by the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® are eligible for grant consideration provided they meet the evaluation criteria below. Grant applicants are evaluated on the following guidelines:

• The community need for the expenditure, as well as the number of people who will be served;
• The impact on the recipient organization;
• The location of the community served; (Although requests for state, national and international projects are considered, preference is given to projects with a more local base.)
• The financial soundness and efficiency of the organization;
• Accuracy and completeness of the application;
• The structure of volunteer organization and level of volunteer support; and
• Appropriate use of the Foundation’s previous grants (if applicable).

The Charitable Foundation Trustees meet quarterly (March, June, September, and December) to evaluate applications. Applications must be received by Feb. 15, May 15, Aug. 15, and Nov. 15 in order to be considered at the quarterly meeting. For more information and details about the Charitable Foundation grants and an application form, visit www.silvar.org, or call SILVAR at (408) 200-0100.

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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