Throughout 2020, the REALTORS® Community Foundation focused volunteer and fundraising efforts in support of four Ada County housing-related non-profits and awarding grants to each: $15,000 to CATCH, Inc., $15,000 to Jesse Tree, $10,000 to the Education Foundation of West Ada School District Housing + High School = Success Program, and $10,000 to Life’s Kitchen.
These funds helped CATCH secure stable housing and financial independence for their clients. Stephanie Day, Executive Director for CATCH, had this to say, “What a year! The pressure to house families has never been greater. Shelter beds are less available and less safe than they’ve ever been and the community need for shelter is rapidly growing. There are 220 families in Ada County alone needing help getting back into a home, and we are so thankful for our local partner, the REALTORS® Community Foundation, for helping us get them back to a safe and stable environment as quickly as possible!”
Thanks to the grant, Jesse Tree was able keep more neighbors housed and prevent homelessness providing support, education, and one-time rental assistance. “It’s so important – now more than ever – that our neighbors are able to remain housed,” said Jesse Tree Executive Director Ali Rabe. The grant from Boise Regional REALTORS® will allow us to support an additional 10 families with rental assistance this year, providing them with help at a critical moment when they’ve fallen behind.”
The Education Foundation of West Ada School District Housing + High School = Success Program (H+HS=S) is a program designed to help provide housing stability to unaccompanied homeless youth (ages 18-21) to help them to stay in school and graduate through the provision of monthly housing stipends and case management support. Keri Davidson, Director of the Education Foundation said, “We are grateful for this amazing donation from the REALTORS® Community Foundation, which will be used as matching funds for our Avenues for Hope campaign, furthering our reach of helping unaccompanied youth in the West Ada School District.”
Grant monies will help Life’s Kitchen continue their important work of providing Opportunity Youth (formally at-risk youth) with valuable skills and the resources they need in order to become independent, financially stable, and successful. Tammy Johnson, Executive Director of Life’s Kitchen, had this to say, “In a year when revenue has decreased and the need has increased to support our youth in workforce development, GED and life skills, the grant awarded to Life’s Kitchen will help ensure we continue to provide much needed services and empower youth in the community. We are so thankful for the REALTORS® Community Foundation!”
In Elmore County, the Foundation provided a $500 grant to the Mountain Home Police Department for a home security system program, and a $2,500 grant to support the County’s fundraising drive for a new aquatic facility.
In Gem County, the Foundation granted $6,000 to the Emmett Valley Friendship Coalition to help purchase a commercial freezer for the food pantry and soup kitchen.
In addition, $1,000 grants were awarded to each of the following local non-profits:
- Boise Angels
- Boise Public Schools Foundation
- Boise Rescue Mission
- Chrysalis
- Giraffe Laugh
- Intermountain Fair Housing Council
- Jannus
- JEMFriends
- LEAP Charities
- Learning Lab
- NeighborWorks Boise
- One Stone
- Salvation Army
- Women’s and Children’s Alliance
“Real estate professionals care about those in our community, and their ability to stay in their homes or find housing,” said Andrea Anderson, 2020 REALTORS® Community Foundation President. “It’s an honor to support these organizations, and in turn, help those struggling with housing and food insecurity, especially during these challenging times. Each of us may donate and volunteer as individuals but it’s rewarding to see the greater impact we have when we come together.”
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The REALTORS® Community Foundation was established in 1995 with a mission to improve the quality of life in the Boise region through housing-related projects and grants. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over $1.7 million in grants to qualifying non-profit organizations. The Foundation is the charitable arm of Boise Regional REALTORS® (BRR), a 501(c)6 trade association, representing real estate professionals throughout the Boise region. Established in 1920, BRR is the largest local REALTOR® association in the state of Idaho, helping members achieve real estate success through ethics, professionalism, and connections. BRR has two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Intermountain MLS (IMLS) and the REALTORS® Community Foundation.
