Windermere Real Estate Nevada offices give $25,000 to HopeLink
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
Today, Windermere Real Estate offices in Nevada will be presenting a grant from the Windermere Foundation of $25,000 to Henderson Allied Community Advocates, also known as HopeLink. The gift represents the Nevada offices’ entire 2009 Windermere Foundation endowment and will be put toward Hopelink’s homelessness prevention efforts to continue fighting homelessness through 2011.
The 2009 endowment was raised by the agents over the last year. For every transaction a Windermere agent makes in the Las Vegas valley, a portion of the commission is donated to the Windermere Foundation. This year is the first time Windermere’s three Southern Nevada offices voted to combine their annual donations to the Windermere Foundation for the purpose of awarding it to a single charity.
Established in Henderson, Nevada in 1991, HopeLink focuses on preventing homelessness for families in crisis. For more than 18 years, the organization has worked to stabilize families and transition them back to permanent housing, through such services as emergency shelter, food pantry, transportation assistance and more.
“We are so thankful to be receiving these funds. HopeLink’s emergency shelter program is really geared to assist those who cannot be served by other programs, homeless individuals being discharged with medical conditions from hospitals, families who cannot be accommodated in other shelters, families with adult disabled children, and others who just can’t be served in a typical environment,” said Daniele Dreitzer, Executive Director of HopeLink. “We are seeing more and more families with children who just can’t keep their homes with the current economic situation. It can take several weeks, and sometimes longer to get families stabilized and into other programs. These funds will enable us to serve families that need additional assistance for a longer period of time, with an eye towards long term stability.”
“Being in real estate, we put families in homes everyday,” said Robyn Yates, V.P. of Marketing for Windermere Real Estate Nevada. “Through our donations to the Windermere Foundation, we are able to provide housing for in-need families in all of our communities. It is our way of showing how blessed we feel as a company to be in such a position to give back.”
Click here to read the full press release.
Best,
Christine Wood
Windermere Foundation ranked in Top 25 of Corporate Philanthropists
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
On May 13th, I attended the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual Corporate Citizenship Awards luncheon where the Windermere Foundation was honored as one of the area’s Top 25 corporate philanthropists among large companies!
The Windermere Foundation ranked #23 with an amazing group of companies like Starbucks, Weyerhaeuser, REI, Boeing and Microsoft – all because of your amazing generosity over the past year!
Pick up the latest issue of the Puget Sound Business Journal for full coverage of corporate philanthropists throughout the Northwest.
Best,
Christine Wood
Windermere Foundation Quarterly Update
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
Because of you and the fantastic support the Windermere Foundation has received so far this year, we disbursed over $268,000 to qualifying social service organizations dedicated to serving low-income and homeless families throughout the West.
Times are still tough for many and yet the amazing agents and staff at Windermere and our public supporters keep giving to others in our community. Gifts to the Foundation during the first quarter of 2010 are up 42% compared to this time last year! With 55% of Foundation revenue coming from over-and-above donations and 45% from transaction fee revenue, I’d say you’re generosity is creating a great start to the new year for many low-income and homeless families.
I’d like to share a few letters from the recipient organizations illustrating how that support can really make a difference in lives of those they serve.
Portland Public Schools
“We want to thank the Windermere Foundation for your wonderful donation to our ‘Backpack Friday’ project at Harrison Park School. It is so nice of your company to support our Backpack Friday project! We were so thrilled to receive your donation for our families. Those who organized the project really appreciate having such wonderful people in our community who help with the program here at Harrison Park School.
The program’s goal is to provide backpacks filled with food items such as peanut butter, bread, macaroni and cheese mixes, soup, etc. that any student may pick up and take home on Fridays to make sure that anyone who needs it will have access to food for the weekend. Harrison Park School provides free breakfast for all our students and free or reduced lunch for the majority of the students. Students depend on getting meals from the school and many go hungry on the weekends. The Backpack Friday project will help alleviate this problem.
So, I want to thank you for caring so much for our children. It is truly heartwarming to have members of our community support our efforts. Thank you so much for your tremendous generosity.”
-Harrison Park School
Windermere Kids at the Y
“Thank you for your donation in support of the Windermere Kids at the Y program. This partnership has been such a boon to our program and we are grateful for the support of all the Windermere agents and employees.
During this time of economic hardship impacting the lives of so many of our neighbors, it has been more important than ever to have the valuable partnership with the Windermere Foundation. Because of your generosity we have been able to provide more scholarships for low-income families who can benefit from the Y’s after-school programs.
Typically, the families that need our programs the most are also the ones who need financial assistance to participate. Windermere Kids at the Y has allowed is to meet this critical need, providing safe and constructive programs for kids who otherwise would be left to their own devices.
Thank you again for the valuable partnership that makes our community a better place to live.”
-YMCA Spokane
Events supporting the Windermere Foundation
The Coeur D’Alene office had a wine and chocolate Valentine’s Day party and raised $5,000 for the Windermere Foundation in just two short hours. Using some lights, candles and a few wine and food stations, they turned the whole lower level of the office into a romantic bistro. Everything for the party was donated by agents and title and bank representatives. One agent even brought their live band! They charged $5.00 at the door, which brought lost of guests in the door and bidding on auction items.
The Walla Walla office took over the Stardust Lanes for a bowl-a-thon and raised over $3,000. They invited their neighbors and had a great turnout. There were 55 bowlers: 28 from the public and 27 associated with Windermere. Sixteen sponsors also accommodated each lane.
Closing gift that gives back
Many of you have purchased a glassbaby as a thoughtful closing gift for clients and thanks to you, the Foundation has received nearly $600! Glassybaby is contributing 10% of your purchase to the Windermere Foundation when the Windermere promotional code is entered at checkout. The Windermere promotional code is: Windermere. A glassybaby is a colorful, hand-blown, glass cup, candleholder, or vase. Choose the perfect glasybaby at glassybaby.com.
We’re receiving some great videos!
I encourage everyone at Windermere to check with their office about plans to create a video for the 20th Anniversary of the Windermere Foundation. The five offices with the best videos will each receive $2,000 for their Windermere Foundation cause of choice. The deadline to submit a video is July 1, 2010 so there is still plenty of time and Community Service Day is a great opportunity to film your office getting involved in your community. Complete details at WORC > Resources > Foundation > Foundation 20th Anniversary.
Best,
Christine Wood
Windermere Services Co. (Seattle, WA) helps kids & families at Children’s Hospital
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
Windermere Services Company (Seattle, WA) donated $1,000 over the past month to help families who had a child receiving medical treatment at Children’s Hospital. Social Workers at the hospital have very few resources to turn to when advocating for families in need of financial assistance – not for medical bills, but for things insurance simply doesn’t cover but are necessary for both child (patient) and family.
The most recent request was for a stroller for a little boy with Cerebral Palsy who also received the heartbreaking diagnosis of Leukemia. Due to the fatigue and bone pain caused by his treatments he is no longer able to walk on his own. With the Father being laid off from his job, the cost to purchase a stroller simply wasn’t in the budget.
The Windermere Foundation donated $150 for the purchase of a new stroller for this very deserving little boy. Another family was helped with rent expenses. When requests like these come across my desk, I’m especially thankful to all the donors who help make granting these requests possible.
Best,
Christine Wood
Windermere Foundation
The Goodwill Development Association receives $3,000 from Seattle offices
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
The Goodwill Development Association received $3,000 from five Seattle Windermere offices (Eastlake, Madison Park, Magnolia, Queen Anne & Wall Street).
The Goodwill Development Association’s mission is to help eliminate homelessness in the Greater Seattle area by providing transitional housing for low-income and at-risk teen mothers and their children. They also aim to help families obtain permanent housing, increase skills and income, and gain greater self-determination.
“Through our programs, we have seen many lives changed for the better. After completing necessary requirements at the Goodwill Development Association, they will be able to take full responsibility for themselves and their children. Since 1990, 227 teen mothers have successfully completed the program.” The Goodwill Development Association
The Windermere Foundation grant will be used to provide supportive services such as education, case management, life skills training and self-esteem workshops.
Best,
Christine Wood
Windermere Foundation
Bryant Elementary receives $5,000 grant from Windermere Real Estate Company’s Foundation fund
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
The Windermere Real Estate Company, which is comprised of 6 Seattle offices (Green Lake, Lake Forest Park, Lakeview, Northgate, Sand Point & Wedgwood), recently donated $5,000 to Bryant Elementary’s Families In Need Fund. The goal for this fund is to provide students with a rich elementary school experience so they may feel a part of the school community and receive the “extras” that most students at Bryant enjoy.
Things like a Bryant t-shirt, year book, school pictures, camp supplies, socks, underwear and winter coats are all considered extras. In addition, this fund will also help provide grocery gift cards for families who are dependent upon the school breakfast and lunch program and cannot afford food during school breaks.
Bryant families are also given the opportunity to give directly to the Families In Need budget, which helps offset the costs of music programs, 5th grade camp, drama club and chess club, etc. – in an effort to allow its own community to support Bryant students who need the additional financial help.
Unfortunately, the need this year is far greater than anticipated and Bryant simply does not have the funds to cover some of the basics. This grant from the Windermere Foundation will help ensure students come to school feeling good about themselves and also have the basic needs of a hot breakfast and lunch during school breaks. Now that’s important!
Best,
Christine Wood
Windermere Foundation
MultiCare’s Tree House project receives over $4,000 from Tacoma Professional Partners
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
Professional Partners (Tacoma and Tacoma North) donated over $4,000 to MultiCare’s Tree House project – a project that fills a very important need. Imagine you had a child in the hospital, fighting for life, and while you of course would want to stay near your child, what if you lived far away? And… what if you didn’t have a place to stay or sleep nor the resources to pay for such accommodations?
Tree House is MultiCare’s new family housing complex which offers 43 sleep rooms, most with two queen beds, private bathrooms, laundry facilities, a communal kitchen and dining room, and a playroom for parents to play with their other children.
“During one of the most traumatic times a family can face, family housing is a true gift that touches lives in a most meaningful way. Thank you for your ongoing support to ensure that Tree House continues to offer parents and families a nurturing, restful environment that lets them focus all of their energies on their beloved child.” MultiCare’s Website
This $4,000 donation will be put to good use making sure families, who live out-of-area, have a place to stay – close to the hospital and close to their child.
Best,
Christine Wood
Windermere Foundation
Hillsboro, OR Office Donates $4,000 to Important Causes
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
Community Warehouse is a volunteer based non-profit that collects donations of household goods and distributes them to families in need. Their mission is to provide the basic necessities to set up a home for a family in crisis. They impact the lives of over 3,300 families per year – 80% of the households include small children and most have a woman as the head of household.
Hillsboro’s grant of $1,000 will help support their program of collecting donated and household items. As a result, families with children will have beds to sleep in and a blanket to keep warm; pots and pans to cook a meal; dishes to eat it on; a table to eat together as a family; and other necessities that help create a stable environment.
Family Bridge received a $1,000 grant from the Windermere Hillsboro office. Their mission is to serve homeless families with children by providing shelter and meals, onsite-counseling, resources for employment, child care, housing referrals, help and hope, so they might achieve stability and self-sufficiency and have a home of their own.
Windermere’s grant will be used to support the needs of the families during their 6 weeks stay at the shelter. Funds will help with personal care items, groceries, bedding, transportation costs, rental application fees, utility deposits, and move-in costs.
The Pantry@Rock Creek Church and Rebuilding Together also received a $1,000 grant to support their good community work.
Best,
Christine Wood
Windermere Foundation
Eastside Baby Corner Gets Help From Windermere Foundation
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
Windermere Property Management Lori Gill and Associates (Bellevue, Lake Forest Park, Vashon Island and Edmonds), just donated $1500 to Eastside Baby Corner, an amazing organization run predominately by volunteers. EBC has been serving families (babies/children) in need since 1990. Their mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families in need by collecting and purchasing children’s items and distributing them, free of charge, through local social service agencies.
EBC depends on approximately 100 volunteers each week to meet the needs of an estimated 5,000 at-risk children in East King County every year. The organization fills an average of 700 orders each week including car seats, diapers, books, formula, baby food and clothing.
This $1,500 donation will be earmarked for the “Top Ten Item” wish list which will help increase EBC’s buying power allowing them to make these much needed purchases.
Best,
Christine Wood
Windermere Foundation
News from the Foundation
Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,
We are celebrating our 20th anniversary and we have much to celebrate! Collectively, we have raised over 21 million dollars since 1989 allowing us to help hundreds of thousands of low-income and homeless families.
While the past year presented challenges for many, it proved to be especially trying for anyone near the border of poverty. Thankfully, generous agents, owners, managers, staff and public supporters have continued their dedication to the Foundation which helped raise over 1.2 million dollars.
For the 10th consecutive year, the over-and-above donations have exceeded the transaction fee revenue! In 2009, 60% of Foundation revenue came from over-and-above donations, while 40% was comprised of transaction fee revenue.
These much needed funds are distributed to many social service agencies committed to assisting low-income and homeless families throughout the West.
A couple stories that help illustrate what we’ve been able to accomplish over the years – thanks to your support:
From 1989 – The cycle of giving continues
A mother with three young children was helped by the Windermere Foundation’s housing assistance grants and she always remembered the generous gift. She said the Foundation gave her hope and encouragement at a time when things looked pretty bleak. She made a promise that at some point her family would repay the Foundation for the generosity they received.
Then in October 2000, three teenagers and their mother arrived at Windermere Real Estate and asked to see Maria Bunting, Founder and Executive Director of the Windermere Foundation. During their visit with Maria, the teenagers spoke about the positive impact the Foundation has had on their lives. Before they left the Windermere office, they each made a hard-earned contribution to the Foundation so that the cycle of giving would continue.
From 2006 – Windermere Kids at the Y
In 2006, the Windermere Foundation and the YMCA partnered to create Windermere Kids at the Y, a tuition-assistance and volunteer program that provides low-income children with quality child care and after-school enrichment programs through local YMCA sites.
Over the years the Foundation has supported the YMCA with over one million dollars in 
contributions. We’ve also received countless testimonials from parents whose children attend a Y site where our program is offered. This one is my favorite:
“My son has been attending the YMCA since the fall of 2006. Being a single father I have not been able to afford many things for my son, but due to the Windermere Kids at the Y program I have been able to enroll Ryan and know that he is safe, well cared for and getting the help that he needs. I am happy to say that the YMCA and Windermere have made a big difference in our lives. Thank you for giving us the chance to succeed.” – YMCA Parent
From 2009 – Christmas House
The Snohomish County Chapter of the Windermere Foundation is comprised of 12 offices. This past Christmas, eight of the offices found a great way to give back and have a terrific experience volunteering their time at Christmas House. Their dedication helped 3,890 families and 11,000 children received Christmas gifts they likely wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Christmas House is a non-profit organization that provides gifts for children of low-income families in Snohomish County. The operation procures gifts year-round and runs from 8AM to 3PM for several weeks prior to Christmas relying on 50 volunteers each day during those busy weeks.
Several Windermere agents volunteered their time during these weeks and many brought older children to help out – giving kids a whole new perspective and appreciation of the difficult times many families are facing.
Kay Frederickson, coordinator of the Snohomish County Chapter said the following about her experience, “I think it goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway, when you give of yourself you always get more than you give and Windermere agents really seem to understand that.”
Looking ahead to 2010, we will continue to focus on all the amazing stories of how your continued support is changing the lives of so many in the communities we serve.
What are you looking forward to in 2010?
In the words of Cesar Chavez, “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about the progress and prosperity for our community.”
Best,
Christine Wood
