Guess what happened when 150 REALTORS®, united in their commitment to ending homelessness, gathered at the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS® (RRAR) Headquarters for the REALTOR® Giving Network (RGN) "Rising Together for Home’s Fundraiser"?
REALTORS® opened their hearts and wallets, resulting in $100,000 being raised for The Hope Center at Pullen and The Carying Place.
Proceeds from the event will provide affordable and stable housing, security, and hope for hardworking families with children and young adults aging out of foster care.
The fundraiser was hosted by RGN, the Association’s nonprofit that harnesses the collective giving power of REALTORS® to improve housing solutions.
“Mr. Rogers advised, 'Look for the helpers.’ I see those helpers as nonprofits. They operate on shoestring budgets with dedicated but often skeletal staff, all while facing the looming threat of funding cuts,” noted Heather Thompson, RGN’s Vice-President.
RGN supercharges local housing nonprofits by providing funds for operational needs, giving nonprofits more agency to guide families out of homelessness into secure, affordable homes.
This year, RGN gave an additional $50,000 to support CASA’s King’s Ridge, a new affordable housing community with wrap-around supportive services for 100 formerly unhoused single adults and families. King’s Ridge reduces the number of people experiencing homelessness in Raleigh/Wake County by 10%.
Since 2019, RGN has invested $550,000 in local housing nonprofits through its Community Grant Program.
REALTORS® were inspired to give after hearing alarming statistics and moving testimonials from Executive Directors Meredith Yuckman of The Hope Center at Pullen and Leslie Covington of The Carying Place, which solidified why access to safe and affordable housing is the bedrock of healthy, productive, and sustainable living.
Yuckman shared that national data shows that one out of two people experiencing homelessness report having a history with the child welfare system. Looking at it from another angle, 43% of former foster youth report experiencing homelessness by age 21, often multiple times.
To help combat these staggering trends, The Hope Center at Pullen will allocate its $50,000 gift toward the purchase of two four-bedroom apartment units that will serve as transitional housing for former foster teens.
Covington noted that they receive 4,000 calls annually from unhoused families in need of affordable, permanent housing. The Carying Place will earmark its $50,000 gift toward the partnership initiative with DHIC, The Town of Cary, The YMCA, and Greenwood Forest Baptist Church to build a 4-story mixed-use facility to house 60 families off Maynard Rd.
RGN has a strong and dedicated Board of Directors, which includes Chair Christina Valkanoff, Past Chair Jenn Cole, Chair-Elect Mahala Landin, Treasurer Mackenzie Sottini, and members Eddie Alie, Stacy Danzey, Shruti Desai, Autumn DuBois, Lori Edwards, Taralyn Farrell, Jason Gardze, Almaree Gordon, Davis Holt, Rachel Lowe, Tim McBrayer, Teresa Pitt, Andrea Presnal, and Michael Terbet.
REALTORS® were treated to a delicious brunch and specialty coffee thanks to event sponsors Valerie and Dan Morse of TripleA Homes and the Dan Thompson Agency.
Want to support RGN’s efforts to help unhoused neighbors?
- Follow us on social media.
- Volunteer your time. www.rrargivingnetwork.org
- Give with a grateful heart. (Text giver to 50155) or visit www.rrargivingnetwork.org
