Windermere Real Estate Donates $125,000
to Five Western U.S. Non-Profit Organizations
Windermere Real Estate recently announced the five winners of its Windermere Charity Challenge—a campaign held in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the company’s nonprofit arm, the Windermere Foundation. Between March 17 and April 4, 21 non-profit organizations from throughout the Western United States competed in regional contests for one of five $25,000 donations, totaling $125,000. More than 78,500 votes were cast during the Windermere Charity Challenge, and the five winners by region are:
- Southwest Washington & Oregon: Friends of the Children (44.4% of the vote)
- Western Washington: Hand-in-Hand (50.8% of the vote)
- Eastern Washington, Idaho & Montana: Family Promise of Spokane (35.6% of the vote)
- California & Hawaii: Boys and Girls Club of El Sobrante (45.7% of the vote)
- Arizona, Utah & Nevada: Yavapi CASA for Kids, Inc. (45% of the vote)
“We were thrilled to nominate Friends of the Children because studies show that when kids are facing unimaginable hardships, a consistent relationship with a positive adult role model can change their lives. Friends of the Children provides paid, passionate, trained mentors to the most at-risk kids from kindergarten through high school graduation,” said Joan Allen, Co-Owner of Windermere Stellar and Co-President of the Windermere Foundation. “Beyond helping the kids excel in school, the mentors provide support in other ways, like encouraging them through extra-curricular activities, standing by during the hard times and being a steady influence that does not waiver during their formative years.”
Friends of the Children is a revolutionary one-on-one mentoring program that provides paid, professional mentors, called Friends, to the community’s most vulnerable children. The early intervention and preventative program selects kids in kindergarten and mentors them through high school graduation. Friends spend an average of four hours per week in intensive one-on-one mentoring to build a foundation of valuable social, academic and life skills.
Windermere president, OB Jacobi, summed up the contest by saying there were “no losers” in this Charity Challenge. “While not everyone walked away with $25,000, this event allowed us to shine a bright light on many of our nonprofit partners and the incredible work they’re doing to support those who need our help the most in communities throughout the Western U.S. For us, that’s priceless.”
For every home that is bought or sold through Windermere, Realtors donate a portion of each commission to the Windermere Foundation, which supports low-income families in our communities. What started in 1989 as a grassroots foundation has grown to encompass ten states and has raised nearly $27 million for programs and organizations that provide shelter, clothing, children’s programs, emergency assistance, and other services to those who need our help most.
In Oregon and southwest Washington, Windermere has raised more than $2.2 million for the Windermere Foundation. Organizations such as Bridge Meadows, Friends of the Children, and Providence Portland Medical Foundation’s guest housing are just a few of the charities that have received funding from the Windermere Foundation.
About Windermere Real Estate
Windermere Real Estate is ranked the largest regional real estate company in the Western U.S. with over 300 offices and 7,000 agents serving communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Mexico. The Windermere family has a proud heritage of serving our neighbors via the Windermere Foundation which funds services for low-income families. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Windermere Foundation has contributed more than 26 million towards improving lives in the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.windermere.com.
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