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Archived Efforts

  • Our 7th Annual be homeful for the holidays campaign [December 2022] was another huge success! The CT REALTORS® Foundation raised approximately $58,000 for the campaign and provided Paddington plush bears/backpacks to children spending the holidays in 24 shelters across Connecticut.  All funds raised will be used throughout the coming year to provide emergency assistance and prevent Connecticut families from becoming homeless in the first place.  We could not have done this without the support of every member/donor, each local Board and several offices who supported this campaign. Special recognition goes to the New Haven Middlesex Association who led all the local Board Teams in fundraising and Calcagni Real Estate, who was the overall top Fundraiser. Thanks to all for once again showing that CT REALTORS® Care! You can visit the Foundation’s Facebook page to see pictures from this year’s shelter deliveries.

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  • Our 7th Annual "Dog Days of Summer" campaign (2022) was a HUGE success. We made our $5,000 goal ($5,193 to be exact) - more than we have ever raised before! The money will be split between CT Cat Connection, Dog Star Rescue and Wildlife in Crisis. The CTR Board of Directors kicked off the campaign at their July meeting by donating mounds of pet food/supplies that each rescue received as well. And while Team DOG ($2,938) came out slightly ahead of Team CAT ($2,255) in our donation challenge - one thing is certain: REALTORS® love ALL of our furry friends and rally behind this campaign every year. THANK YOU to all who donated...CT REALTORS® Care!

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  • Thank you to those who donated to the Raymond F. Gates, Jr. Memorial Scholarship fund via the Travelers Championship “Birdies for Charity” program this year (2022)! It was our best fundraising year with the Travelers Championship to date, raising $8,960 which generated $1,344 in a free matching donation from Birdies for Charity for a grand total of $10,304. Every dollar raised will go directly towards scholarships awarded next year.

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  • Every year, the CTR Foundation holds a drive in conjunction with the March CTR Board of Directors meeting to collect items needed by local area homeless shelters. And every year, the CTR BOD's generosity is overwhelming! In March of 2022, the drive benefitted Columbus House (Middletown, Wallingford and New Haven shelters) and The Connection/Julie's Safe House in Enfield. In addition to the mounds of items donated, Columbus House and Julie's Safe House will split $1,300 in monetary donations. 

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  • Our 6th Annual be homeful for the holidays campaign [December 2021] was another huge success! The campaign raised over $75,000 and the CT REALTORS® Foundation provided Paddington plush bears and backpacks to children spending the holidays in shelters across Connecticut thanks to the generosity of everyone who donated. The funds will be used throughout the coming year to provide emergency assistance and prevent Connecticut families from becoming homeless. We could not have done this without the support of each local Board and several offices who supported this campaign. Special recognition goes to the New Haven Middlesex Association who led all the local Boards in fundraising and William Pitt Sotheby’s, led by their Litchfield County Brokerage, who was the overall top fundraising team. Thanks to all for once again showing that CT REALTORS® Care! You can visit the Foundation’s Facebook page to see pictures from this year’s shelter deliveries.

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  • Our 6th Annual “Dog Days of Summer” campaign (2021) was a record-breaker, raising $3,709.  Pet Animal Welfare Society in Norwalk and New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare Society split pet food and supplies donated in July during the CTR Board of Directors meeting and also received $927.25 each from funds raised.  The other half of donations received will be used to purchase 24 sets of pet oxygen masks for fire departments throughout the state.  Thank you to all who donated to help our furry friends in need waiting to find their furever homes and helping to keep pets safe at home.

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  • Thank you to those who donated to the Raymond F. Gates, Jr. Memorial Scholarship fund via the Travelers Championship “Birdies for Charity” program in 2021!  $7,030 was raised which generated $1,054.50 in a free matching donation from Birdies for Charity for a grand total of $8.084.50.  Every dollar raised will go directly towards scholarships awarded next year.

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  • The CT REALTORS Board of Directors proves once again that "REALTORS Care"!  In conjunction with their March 2021 meeting, the Foundation held a virtual Shelter "Bed & Bath" drive to benefit 3 local area shelters.  Ten 8 pc. towel sets, 12 blankets, 14 comforters, 16 pillows and 26 twin sheet sets were donated along with miscellaneous bath/laundry products and over $1,100.  Way to go, CTR Directors!!​

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  • Our 5th Annual be homeful for the holidays campaign [December 2020] was a huge success! Thank you to all of the members, member firms, local Associations and others who donated. Your generosity raised over $60,000 and provided more than 800 Paddington plush bears to children spending the holidays in shelters across Connecticut. The funds raised will be used throughout the coming year to provide emergency assistance and prevent families from becoming homeless. We could not have done this without everyone’s support – thank you for once again showing that CT REALTORS Care! You can visit the Foundation’s Facebook page to see pictures from this year’s shelter deliveries.

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  • The Foundation was overwhelmed by the positive response to our September 2020 Mattress Fundraiser held in conjunction with our partners at the CT Coalition to End Homelessness.  In less than a month, members generously donated $11,100 to provide 111 new mattresses to individuals/families moving from homelessness into their new homes.

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  • Dog Days of Summer 2020 - with our campaign entirely "virtual" this year, a huge thank you to all who made online donations totaling $1,800 that was split between Brass City Rescue Alliance, Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter and Pack Leaders Rescue of CT as well as to those who donated food, toys and other items sent directly to the participating shelters from their Amazon Wish Lists.

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  • Although we were unable to sell discounted tickets to the Travelers Championship in 2020, a big thank you goes out to those who supported the Gates Scholarship Fund with donations via the Birdies for Charity program which provided a 15% match for every donation and raised a total of $4,628.75.

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  • In August 2020, provided 234 grants totaling nearly $30,000 directly to CT REALTORS members impacted by Tropical Storm Isaias.

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  • In July 2020, provided 100 "Care Kits" each to 3 shelters:  Beth El Center in Milford, Inspirica in Stamford and Open Door Shelter in Norwalk.

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  • In February 2020, the Opioid Grant Review Committee met, reviewed 92 grant applications and awarded 22 organizations nearly $600,000 in grants as part of the CTRecovers "End the Stigma" opioid awareness campaign.

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  • Our 4th annual “be homeful for the holidays” campaign [December 2019] exceeded our expectations once again this year.  Donations are still trickling in, but the overall campaign total currently stands at roughly $60,000 with nearly $40,000 of that coming from REALTOR®-generated donations.  These funds will provide emergency assistance to prevent families from becoming homeless.  Plush Paddington bears, books or blankets were also provided to every child living in a shelter over the Holidays (approximately 800) through this campaign.  Whether you donated, put up a giving tree, helped wrap or deliver gifts – we could not have done it without you!  CT REALTORS® Care.

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  • At the 2019 CTR Installation and Foundation Benefit Dinner, attendees were asked to bring toiletry/undergarment donations for the VA (Newington Campus) and they certainly came through!  Thank you to all who donated to support our local Veterans.

Photo of supplies collected for a toiletry drive for Veterans

  • Thank you to everyone who supported the Gates Scholarship Fund by purchasing discounted tickets for the 2019 Travelers Championship or making donations via the Travelers’ Chip in for Charity program – it was our best year yet!  Your generosity helped raise $7,203 for the Gates Scholarship Fund!

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  • Dog Days of Summer 2019 - A huge thank you to our many generous donors who helped raise $2,100 for our Dog Days of Summer campaign that has been split between three benefitting animal rescue organizations this year: CT Dog Gone Recovery Volunteer Network, Meriden Humane Society and Sadie Mae Foundation in addition to the mountain of supply donations collected at our July BOD meeting.  We’re also happy to report that all of the animals features on CTR.tv's “5 in 5” segments have been adopted! 

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  • In our continuing efforts to help with homelessness across the state, the CT REALTORS Foundation held a paper product drive at the March 2019 CTR BOD meeting.  139 rolls of paper towels, 446 rolls of toilet paper, 3300 napkins, 590 cups, 1296 plates, 27 boxes of tissues and $80 in cash donations were collected and split between Holy Family Home and Shelter in Willimantic and Covenant Shelter of New London. 

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  • Check out CTR's special edition of "5 IN 5" featuring many of the foundations efforts in 2018. 

  • Thanks to the incredibly generous support of CT REALTORS® across the State, we are happy to report that the CTR Foundation’s 2018 “be homeful for the holidays” campaign was a huge success – our best year yet - raising over $100,000 to help end family homelessness in Connecticut and providing a plush Paddington bear/book or blankie/book to every child living in a shelter over the Holidays. Thank you to all who contributed, we could not have done it without you!

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  • In October 2018, made a $2,000 donation to help with relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Michael in the Florida panhandle area. 
     

  • Thanks to member donations matched by the Foundation, donated $4,000 to benefit victims of Hurricane Florence in North and South Carolina.

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  • Over the summer/fall of 2018, thanks to the extreme generosity of CT REALTORS members, the Foundation was able to collect over 5,000 pieces of toiletries that were distributed to St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, The Cornerstone Foundation in Rockville, FISH of Northwestern CT, New Reach in New Haven, Liberation Programs in Stamford, Covenant Shelter of New London and CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence who will share the toiletries with shelters/safe houses throughout CT.

  • At their October 4, 2018 BOD meeting, CTR Directors once again came through by donating countless disposable razors to help fill a need at the South Park Inn (a homeless shelter in Hartford).

Big supply of razors collected to give to homeless shelters

  • Thank you to everyone who supported the Gates Scholarship Fund by purchasing discounted tickets for the 2018 Travelers Championship or making donations via the Travelers’ Chip in for Charity program.  Your generosity helped raise over $6,000 for the Gates Scholarship Fund!​

  • Our first Toiletry Drive collection of nearly 500 pieces was delivered in August 2018 to The Shelter at St. Vincent DePaul Mission in Waterbury.  Many thanks to all of the members who have donated and local Boards who have collected these donations.

Small toiletries collected during a toiletries drive

  • During the CTR Board of Directors meeting on July 19, 2018 as part of our “Dog Days of Summer” campaign, the Foundation collected over 300 lbs of dry food, nearly 400 cans of wet food, almost 50 packages of treats, close to 100 toys/supplies/miscellaneous items along with $750 in monetary donations to benefit Bridgeport Animal Control Shelter/Pantry, Danbury Animal Welfare Society and Protectors of Animals.  Special thanks to the CTR Board of Directors, Rich Eimicke/the Northern Fairfield County Association staff and Foundation Trustee Mary Beth Grasso for delivering the donations to the shelters.

Table full of pet foods and supplies collected for animal shelters

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  • In May/June 2018, provided a total of $16,525 in grants to CT REALTORS members who were affected by the tornadoes that touched down here in CT.

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  • At their meeting on March 15, 2018 CT REALTORS Board of Directors members donated more than 5,200 diapers, 1,500+ wipes and nearly $400 in cash donations to benefit The Diaper Bank. Thank you to all who so generously supported this incredible organization that provides more than 1.7 million diapers to families in need across the state each year.

Table full of diapers and baby items collected for a diaper pantry

  • ​CT REALTORS® members who attended the 2017 NAR Annual Conference in Chicago collected and brought back with them hundreds of hotel toiletries that were later donated to Immacare in Hartford. Immacare has supportive housing and an emergency shelter where the toiletries will be used. Just another simple and cost-free way CT REALTORS® lent a hand to those in need!

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  • Donated $2,410 to benefit the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico relocating to CT. 

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  • A huge thank you to those who donated for Hurricane Harvey and Irma relief efforts.  The Foundation offered to match 100% of contributions received (up to $10,000 each). We were able to provide $20,290 to the NAR REALTORS® Relief Foundation for Hurricane Harvey and $12,605 to the Florida REALTORS® Relief Foundation.
     

  • Another thank you goes out to those who supported the Gates Scholarship Fund by purchasing discounted tickets for the 2017 Travelers Championship or making donations via the Travelers Chip in for Charity program.  Your generosity helped raise $5,750 for the Gates Scholarship fund.

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  • The Foundation Trustees met in September 2017 and approved dedicating an annual Gates Scholarship in honor of each CTR Past President who passes away.  The first two memorial scholarships will be presented next year in honor of CTR Past Presidents Bob Kimball and Frank Green who most recently passed away.

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  • In May 2017 during the NAR meetings in DC, the CT REALTORS® Foundation asked CT REALTORS® attending the meetings to collect their hotel toiletries.  Over 500 pieces were collected and donated to the American Red Cross for their new immigrant and homeless veteran programs. Such an easy and cost-free way to show CT REALTORS® Care!

  • During the CTR Board of Directors meeting on July 20, 2017 as part of our “Dog Days of Summer” campaign, the Foundation collected nearly 400 pounds of dry food/treats, 80+ cans of wet food and 40+ toys/supplies/miscellaneous items along with cash donations to benefit the Waterford and Westport CT Humane Society shelters. Special thanks to CTR Director Carol Christiansen and Mid-Fairfield County Association AE Carol Heins who dropped the donations off at the shelters.

  • Thanks to the incredibly generous support of CT REALTORS® across the State, we are happy to report that the CTR Foundation’s 2016 “be homeful for the holidays” campaign was a huge success. Our goal was to raise $50,000 to help end family homelessness in Connecticut and to provide 2,000 plush Paddington bears to children living in shelters – and we did just that ($51,200 to be exact.) Best of all, the fundraising efforts have allowed the CT Coalition to End Homelessness to open their assistance fund to providers everywhere in the State for the first time since they launched the "be homeful" project three years ago. Thank you to all who contributed, we could not have done it without you.

  • At the 2016 CT REALTORS® Installation and Foundation Benefit dinner, 330 mittens/gloves, hats and scarfs were donated to benefit local shelters through the City of New Haven’s Homeless Division. The Foundation also collected 128 donations totaling over $3,200 for its “be homeful for the holidays” campaign to help end family homelessness and donate a plush Paddington bear to every child living in a shelter this holiday season. Pictured are 2017 CTR President Michael Barbaro and CTR Foundation Chair Nicholle McKiernan.

Bags of toiletries collected for homeless shelters
Pet food and supplies collected for animal shelters in 2017
Paddington Bear Deliveries to Shelters 2016
Hat, Scarves and Mittens Collection

  • The CTR Foundation donated $2,500 to the Louisiana REALTORS® Relief Fund to support their to help residents and homeowners as they attempt to recover from devastating flooding in August of 2016.
     

  • In July 2016, we made a $2,500 donation to the West Virginia REALTOR® Relief Fund to benefit the victims of the most devastating flooding they have seen there in 100 years.
     

  • In May 2015, we made a donation to AmeriCares in support of their efforts in response to the earthquake in Nepal.
     

  • In December 2014, in response to a personal plea to Sierra Leone’s Ambassador Ibrahim S. Conteh, the Foundation made a $1,000 donation to Citizens to Drive Out Ebola.  Freetown, Sierra Leone is a Sister City to New Haven, CT. 
     

  • In 2013, we donated $4,000 to the Oklahoma Housing Foundation after a devastating tornado in May and $2,500 to RRF in support of relief efforts in Illinois after tornadoes hit that state in November.
     

  • In 2012 the Foundation partnered with AmeriCares to raise over $21,000 to support Connecticut relief efforts after Hurricane Sandy and that we also made a $3,500 contribution to the REALTORS Relief Fund (RRF) to in support of the recovery efforts of our neighbors in New York and New Jersey after the same storm.  The Foundation also donated $2,500 to the Newtown Rotary and another $2,500 to Newtown Youth and Family Services to assist the community after the Sandy Hook tragedy. 
     

  • $5,000 to the Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross to help CT residents who were displaced by Hurricane Irene and $5,000 to the REALTORS Relief Foundation to support relief efforts in VT after Hurricane Irene in 2011.​

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  • $11,000 to Alabama after the devastating tornadoes in 2011.
     

  • $4,000 to Habitat for Humanity International for Chile after the earthquake in 2010.
     

  • $6,000 through the REALTOR® Relief Fund for Haiti through the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund in 2010.
     

  • $5,000 to Georgia after floods and mudslides in 2009.
     

  • $5,000 to Kansas after tornadoes in 2007.
     

  • $5,000 to Southeast Asia after the Tsunami in 2005.
     

  • $50,000 towards efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. CTR and the local Boards from Connecticut also raised and donated an additional $70,850 to NAR’s Operation Home Delivery project. Additionally, 14 CTR members traveled to Mobile Alabama as part of the Global Village project, organized in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity International, to build homes for those hurt by Katrina.
     

  • After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, NAR created the REALTORS® Housing Relief Fund to aid the dependent family members of those killed in the attacks. The fund raised monies to make three mortgage payments for victim’s families to help keep them in their homes. Connecticut worked with NAR and was a hub state for the fund as many victims resided in Connecticut.

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