WALTHAM, Mass. – June 21, 2012 – The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Charitable Foundation recently announced the 2012 recipients of its spring Housing and Homeless Assistance Grants.  The following charities were nominated by local REALTOR® Associations and then selected to receive a share of $14,500 in grants based on their initiatives to provide affordable housing, shelter and other emergency care services within Massachusetts:

 
• Cape Ann Homeownership Center/Gloucester Housing Authority
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth
• Habitat for Humanity Metro West/Greater Worcester
• Horizons for Homeless Children
• Latham Center, Inc.
• Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance
• Nantucket Interfaith Council/Nantucket Rental Assistance Program
• Our Place Daycare Center for Homeless Children
• Pro Home, Inc.
• Project Just Because
• The Salvation Army of New Bedford
• The Stoneham Food Pantry/First Congregational Church
• Wellspring Multi-Service Center Womanshelter/Companeras, Inc.
 

“REALTORS® live in the communities they work in and know first-hand the difference these 15 organizations make for neighbors in need,” said MAR Charitable Foundation Chairman Paul Yorkis, broker/owner of Patriot Real Estate in Medway.  “Not only did the Foundation donate the most funds in one grant cycle but assisted the largest number of deserving organizations in one time than ever before.  It is our highest hope to continue to help as many charities we can.”
 

Housing and Homeless Assistance Grant Program Overview:
The Charitable Foundation’s Board of Trustees created this program in 2000 to encourage REALTOR® support for local non-profit groups and their initiatives to provide affordable housing, shelter and other emergency care services within the Commonwealth.
  
Each local REALTOR® association in Massachusetts is able to nominate housing or homeless assistance charitable organizations (501(C)(3)s) from their jurisdictional area for a monetary grant from the Foundation.  Grants are awarded in the spring and fall of each calendar year. 
  

About the MAR Charitable Foundation:
The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Charitable Foundation performs a variety of community outreach initiatives that provide assistance to needy individuals and the community at-large. Since its inception in 1992, the Foundation has implemented several grant programs aimed at furthering the REALTOR® tradition of giving back to the local community.   For more information or to make a donation to the Foundation go to: www.marcharitable.com.
 

About the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®:
Organized in 1924, the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® is a professional trade organization with more than 18,000 members.  The term REALTOR® is registered as the exclusive designation of members of the National Association of REALTORS® who subscribe to a strict code of ethics and enjoy continuing education programs.

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Editors and reporters: Please note that the term Realtor is properly spelled with an initial capital “R”, per the Associated Press Stylebook.