Realtor's Care Shelter Drive raises $34,773 for housing charities
A year’s worth of REALTOR® fundraising and giving through the REALTORS Care® Shelter Drive in 2010-11 has generated a total of $34,773.44. The funds will be distributed amongst three housing-related charities located in the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) area.
The charities benefitting from the Shelter Drive in 2010-11 are the Alouette Home Start Society, Maple Ridge; the Lookout Emergency Aid Society, North Vancouver; and the Tri-Cities Transitions Society. The funds raised this year better last year’s total by over $5,000.
“These charities have a direct and positive impact in the lives of adults and children in need of social, affordable, and safe housing,” said Rosario Setticasi, REBGV president. “The charities know first-hand what’s needed to help people succeed and that has a positive effect on all of us.”
The Shelter Drive is a program developed by members of the Board and is funded entirely by member donations. In partnership with the divisions, funds are raised through events such as Christmas parties and golf tournaments, and Board activities like the Shelter Drive Pledge Week and sales of the Board’s Teldon calendar.
The Alouette Home Start Society (AHSS) works to find solutions for the lack of affordable housing and homelessness in Maple Ridge and area. Along with a safe house for youth and community outreach to the homeless, the AHSS has started construction on a 46 unit supportive housing development and will direct their funding toward this project.
The Lookout Emergency Aid Society provides safe immediate temporary housing for adult men and women and helps them connect with services in the community. The Lookout Society will use their donation to make much needed improvements to their North Vancouver shelter.
The Tri-City Transitions Society (formerly Tri-City Women’s Resource Society) provides help and hope to women and families who have been affected by violence and abuse. Their funds will go toward hiring an outreach worker to provide services designed specifically for immigrant women.
The REALTORS Care® Shelter Drive was created in 2009 and supports up to three housing-related charities a year from across Greater Vancouver. Each year the charities are selected from recommendations made by members. Within two years, this program has raised more than $64,000.