Los Gatos Weekly-Times
Homes
The Real Deal
Support realtors' charity benefit
Realtors and affiliates of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors are holding their biggest charity fundraiser to make sure no one in our communities is homeless this winter. By purchasing a $50 ticket to the HIF Home for the Holidays charity benefit, which features a Halloween theme, gourmet buffet dinner, silent and live auctions and a raffle, we can make sure this happens.
The Housing Industry Foundation, a nonprofit charity, helps individuals and families in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties remain in stable housing. Emergency housing grants, which are at the core of HIF's homeless prevention program, provide one-time emergency assistance without a lot of red tape to help individuals or families with rent, mortgage, utilities and security deposits.
This year, emergency grants enabled Ana, a struggling single mother of three, to pay rent on her apartment after she was injured in a car accident; helped Alex and Marie, a young married couple, who, forced to move out of a home occupied by 13 other people, found a new place, but did not have money left for furniture or food; assisted Elizabeth, who, affected by a schizoaffective disorder, had enough money to move to an apartment and pay the deposit, but not enough funds for the first month's rent.
HIF is supported by the apartment, real estate and building industries. The foundation's administrative costs are shouldered by board members, so money raised from Home for the Holidays goes directly to people in need.
"Every single penny raised through sponsorships, tickets and the auctions and raffle goes directly to people in our communities who need it," said Judy Ellis, a Realtor with Alain Pinel Realtors and former board president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors.
Ellis explained the association has hosted Home for the Holidays for nearly a decade because HIF programs "help people help themselves. Some people face an unexpected illness, or are laid off from work, and don't have enough money to tied them over for their rent. Grants from HIF help them not go out in the streets or go to a shelter. The key is it's not just a handout; funds raised help them sustain housing."
The ninth annual Home for the Holidays will be held Oct. 12, 5:30-10:30 p.m., at The Avalon in Santa Clara, with Coldwell Banker of Northern California, Home Loan Experts, Siamack Shariat/Banker's Network, Keller Williams Realty (Cupertino and Palo Alto offices), The Sereno Group, Bank of America and Alain Pinel Realtors as major sponsors.
It's not too late to support the worthwhile cause. Even if you can't attend the event, you can still buy an admission ticket, which entitles you to three raffle tickets and a chance to win a $2,500 trip for two to Puerto Vallarta. For two admission tickets, receive 10 raffle tickets. It will really mean a home for the holidays for those who will benefit from the funds raised.
For tickets, sponsorships or donations, call Silicon Valley Association of Realtors development director Kelly Dadsetan at 408.200.0100.
Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org. Send questions on any topic to rmeily@silvar.org.
