Canopy Housing Foundation awards $13,500 at Community Grants Celebration to area nonprofits
July 27, 2021
Contact: Kim Walker, 704-940-3149
Canopy Housing Foundation awards $13,500 at Community Grants Celebration to area nonprofits
Charlotte, N.C. – As North Carolinians continue to deal with the economic after effects of the pandemic, rising cost of living and decreasing affordability within the housing market, Realtors® remain firmly committed to continue in their mission of outreach and service to the community. Through the work of Canopy Housing Foundation, Haywood County area Realtors® are dedicated to grassroots support of area non-profit organizations addressing housing and educational needs and awarded four area nonprofits with Community and Habitat for Humanity Grants totaling $13,500 at the annual Membership Luncheon and Opening Hearts, Opening Doors Celebration on July 27, 2021.
Canopy Housing Foundation’s Community Grants Program was launched in 2009 and awards funds to nonprofits in Mecklenburg, Iredell and Haywood counties that work to address housing issues. Organizations with missions that closely align with the Foundation, are able to apply annually for grants, however each grantee must be supported by a letter of recommendation from an active Realtor®.
The area non-profit organizations receiving $12,000 in grants this year:
The EACH Initiative, Inc. (Ending Area Child Homelessness)
Recommendation: $3,000 to help provide subsidies for living expenses to families who were previously homeless and are now moving to a position of self-sustainability as they participate in EACH’s rigorous transitional housing program. Realtor® referral: Amy Spivey, ERA Sunburst Realty
Recommendation: $3,000 to provide one month’s rental relief for six families at an average cost of $500 per family, a continuation of their collaboration with the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency. Realtor® referral: Pamela Williams and multiple members of the Beverly-Hanks & Assoc.
Recommendation: $3,000 to be used to purchase a locking cargo travel trailer to safeguard tools for the development of affordable housing; this funding will cover a portion of the costs. Realtor® referral: Brian Cagle, Beverly-Hanks & Assoc.
The Foundation’s Habitat Support Program, which has supported Iredell and Mecklenburg County area Habitats for Humanity since 2007, awarded the Haywood County Habitat for Humanity $3,000 in funding to purchase materials to frame a new home build on Sylvan Street in Waynesville, North Carolina. Realtor® Referral: Randall Rogers, Beverly-Hanks Realtors®
The Foundation has a mission of Realtors® creating housing opportunities through advocacy, education, funding and leadership. In keeping with the educational partnership that area Realtors® have forged with Haywood County Schools Foundation, two educational scholarships in the amount of $750 each were bestowed upon Tuscola High School graduate Lillian Howell and Pisgah High School graduate Andjelka Francis. Howell and Francis were both honors students with intentions to pursue a college education. Lillian is the daughter of Ronald Howell and Angelyn Teasley, and Andjelka is the daughter of Anthony and Vesna Francis.
Since 2009 Canopy Housing Foundation’s Community Grants have been open to nonprofit organizations in Mecklenburg and Iredell counties that address housing issues. With the merger between Canopy Realtor® Association and the Haywood Realtor® Association in 2020, the Community Grants program now extends support to nonprofits and the Habitat for Humanity program in Haywood County.
Applications for the annual Community 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, 2021. Funds cannot be used for capital costs, staff/administrative expenses or debt reduction.
To date, Canopy Housing Foundation has distributed $663,499.70 through the Community Grants Program and the Habitat Support Program to community organizations and Habitats in the Charlotte region (and now Haywood County) over the past 15 years. The Foundation looks forward to expanding and continuing this tradition of support in Haywood County.
Canopy Housing Foundation serves as the charitable arm of Canopy 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.
For more information about Canopy Housing Foundation, the Canopy Realtor® Association or Canopy MLS, visit www.CarolinaHome.com.
Canopy MLS is a wholly-owned subsidiary corporation of Canopy Realtor® Association and is the private broker cooperative used by Realtors® to bring buyers and sellers together with access to thousands of residential listings in a multicounty service area, including Charlotte, the mountains area of North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond. Canopy MLS, which has 20,600 subscribers, provides the most trustworthy, timely, accurate and complete property data along with proprietary tools for showings, market stats, predictive analytics, and more. Canopy MLS is used by its members to support consumers in their residential real estate transactions, whether selling, buying, investing or renting.
Original Publish Date: 7/27/2021