Canopy Housing Foundation awards record-breaking $90,722.22 at Grants Luncheon
Sept. 4, 2019
Contact: Kim Walker
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Realtors®, united in their mission to meet the Charlotte region’s housing needs and committed to collaboration and partnerships to open doors for others, gathered for the Canopy Housing Foundation Opening Hearts, Opening Doors luncheon to recognize the good work of area nonprofits addressing unmet housing needs across the Charlotte region.
Some 150 Realtors® assembled to celebrate and award 16 agencies and eight area Habitats for Humanity a total of $65,000. In addition, Canopy Housing Foundation presented a check in the amount of $25,222.22 to The Relatives, an organization that provides emergency housing to youth in crisis. The Relatives was the 2019 beneficiary of the Foundation’s Strides for Shelter 5K Run/Walk. A grand total of $90,722.22 was donated at the luncheon to area nonprofit organizations with missions that align closely with Canopy Housing Foundation.
This year Canopy Housing Foundation also instituted the Youth Excellence in Service Award (YES) to recognize and encourage young people ages 10 to 18 who are engaged in service. This year’s recipients are sisters Mykia (age 17) and Zarriah (age 15) White, who are survivors of domestic abuse. The sisters lived with their mother at Turning Point’s Tree House Children’s Advocacy Center. Despite their adversity and having to adjust to a new community and school, they are both A/B Honor Roll student-athletes who created the Turning Point Teen Club at their high school to promote and educate young people on teen dating abuse and the value of healthy relationships. As recipients of the YES Award, they received a commemorative plaque and were able to have $500 donated in their names by Canopy Housing Foundation to the nonprofit of their choice.
Canopy Housing Foundation’s Community Grants Program was launched in 2009 and awards funds to nonprofits in Mecklenburg and Iredell counties that work to address housing issues. Each grantee must be supported by a letter of recommendation from an active Realtor®. Canopy Housing Foundation’s Habitat Support Program was formalized in 2007 and provides monetary support to area Habitat for Humanity organizations.
To date, Canopy Housing Foundation has distributed $497,999.70 through the Community Grants Program and the Habitat Support Program to community organizations and Habitats in the region over the past 13 years.
Canopy Housing Foundation serves as the charitable arm of the Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association and is dedicated to creating a community where all housing needs are met. The Foundation and its core of Realtor® volunteers work toward this goal through funding, education, advocacy and leadership programs that are focused on fair and affordable housing and workforce-housing initiatives.
The following organizations received Community Grants:
- Ada Jenkins Development Center: $3,000 to support approximately five client-partners and their families with rental assistance from the Investment Fund. Realtor® referral: Arlene Arciero, Southern Homes for the Carolinas, Inc.
- Beatties Ford Road Vocational Trade Center: $1,500 to provide rental assistance for three extremely low-income students who are pursuing an apprenticeship certification in order to gain full-time employment and stability. Realtor® referral: John Stroup, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
- Changed Choices: $2,500 to provide six one-month residencies in a stable re-entry home to allow women the space to build new lives beyond prison walls. Realtor® referral: Caroline Grossman, Allen Tate
- Charlotte Family Housing: $3,000 to assist in the expenses for four families currently experiencing homelessness as they transition from one of the temporary shelters to permanent housing. Realtor® referral: Dan Cottingham, Cottingham Chalk
- Davidson Housing Coalition: $3,000 to purchase basic household appliances and to cover range hood installation in a new transitional housing unit. Realtor® referral: Michael Orlando, TSG Residential Real Estate
- Diakonos (Fifth Street Ministries): $3,000 to purchase a storage building for donated furniture for homeless individuals and families when moving into permanent housing. Realtor® referrals: Mary Palmes, Allen Tate
- Families Forward Charlotte: $3,000 to provide financial assistance for families in the program who are currently homeless or facing housing instability. Realtor® referral: Caroline Cox, Cottingham Chalk
- Foundation for Girls: $3,000 to provide rental assistance for six teen moms and their families as they transition to a life of independence. Realtor® referral: Gitanjali Mathur, Allen Tate
- Gracious Hands Transitional Housing: $2,000 to purchase household cookware, silverware and bedroom linens for ten beds as well as bath towels, wash cloths and hand towels for the use by the families in residence who are currently experiencing homelessness. Realtor® referral: Jennifer Updegraft, Allen Tate
- Lily Pad Haven: $3,000 to provide the final portion of funds needed to replace the septic system at two of their houses for at-risk families. Realtor® referral: Tori Robinson, Keller Williams Realty
- Matthews HELP Center: $3,000 to provide housing/rental assistance for six families experiencing a financial crisis. Realtor® referral: Brooke Bryant, Bryant Realty Homes, LLC
- Project One: $3,000 to provide rental assistance to three disadvantaged, low-income upperclassmen (junior/senior year) who are living in off-campus housing to help eliminate their burden of housing instability while they seek an education. Realtor® referral: Moneen Allen, Black House Realty SP
- Running Works, Inc.: $3,000 to cover the move-in expenses for three individuals (or families) making the transition out of homelessness into housing as part of the Running Works Housing Program. Realtor® referral: Sherry George, Dickens Mitchener
- Safe Alliance: $3,000 to provide 1,818 single-ride bus fares for residents of the Clyde & Ethel Dickinson Domestic Violence Shelter so that residents can regain independence and transition from the shelter to safe, affordable housing. Realtor® referral: Lynn Johnson, Savvy + Co. Real Estate
- The Salvation Army: $1,500 to obtain copies of records for 125 mothers and fathers in their emergency shelter so they can secure housing at the cost of $25 per head of household. Realtor® referral: Catherine Browning, First Charlotte Properties
- YWCA of Central Carolinas: $1,500 to purchase basic essential items for the women and their families who are currently experiencing homelessness for when they enter the Families Together program. Realtor® referral: Julie Wall-Burris, Lilac Realty
Applications for the annual Community Grants Program and Habitat Grants Program are rated according to community impact, project feasibility, fiscal strength and Realtor® support. Funds are restricted and must be used by December 31, 2019. Funds cannot be used for capital costs, staff/administrative expenses or debt reduction.
For more information about Canopy Housing Foundation, the Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association or Canopy MLS, visit www.CarolinaHome.com.
Canopy Housing Foundation is the charitable arm of the Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association and is dedicated to funding, education, advocacy and leadership programs that are focused on fair and affordable housing and workforce-housing initiatives. The Foundation serves to position and educate Realtors® as leaders, promote homeownership and provide funding to create housing opportunities.
Original Publish Date: 9/4/2019