Charitable Giving Divided
I find it interesting to read that when it comes to giving the 'Have-Nots' seem to be the more charitable group.

The New York Times looked into the way we live and the way we give:
A number of studies have shown that lower-income Americans give proportionally more of their incomes to charity than do upper-income Americans. In 2001, Independent Sector, a nonprofit organization focused on charitable giving, found that households earning less than $25,000 a year gave away an average of 4.2 percent of their incomes; those with earnings of more than $75,000 gave away 2.7 percent.

A lack of identification with those in need may explain in part why a 2007 report from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University found that only a small percentage of charitable giving by the wealthy was actually going to the needs of the poor; instead it was mostly directed to other causes — cultural institutions, for example, or their alma maters — which often came with the not-inconsequential payoff of enhancing the donor’s status among his or her peers. Check out the full article Click Here 

Of course, I don't want to lose sight of our blog post from two weeks ago regarding: The Giving Pledge 
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are leading the way 
in trying to turn America's super-rich into a generation of 'great givers'.

For me personally it isn't about 'The Haves vs The Have-Nots'....it is more
about getting everyone to realize the importance of giving.
When we teach our children how to manage their money...we should also
be teaching them how to live within their means, how to save and most important...How to Give!

7 Ways to Give
Whether you think of yourself as one of 'The Haves' or one of 'The Have-Nots'....or maybe   
somewhere in between...here are 7 ways you can give to the REALTOR® Foundation.
 All donations are tax-deductible.

 Annual Gift (one time gift)
By check or credit card.
Mail to:
1912 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202
or 

Online Donation Click Here

Make Mine Monthly
Make a commitment to donate any amount of $10 or more per month. Click Here

Honorary/Memorial Gift
Any Gift may be made in honor or in memory of another individual,
whether it is a one-time gift or a recurring gift. Click Here
Honorary or memorial information should be sent to the REALTOR® Foundation office at the time of the gift.
 A letter will be sent to the person being honored (or their family).

Transactional Giving
If you are a REALTOR® we encourage you to make a donation per each closing transaction.
Agents in specific offices may be able to allocate a donation from each closing directly from their closing form.
(important to remember...you do not have to be a REALTOR® to donate to this worthy cause. We raise funds and awareness to help the homeless community in central Indiana)

Donate an Auction Item
The REALTOR® Foundation regularly holds auctions and seeks gifts such as
restaurant/hotel/shopping gift certificates, tickets to events and other experiential items.
To donate an item, contact Claire Belby at 317/956-5232.

Corporate Sponsors
Sponsorship opportunities are available for all of our fundraising events: 
Click here for The Ball , Click here for the Golf Outing ,
and our next upcoming event which is
in immediate need of sponsorship is Foundation Awareness Week Click Here for Awareness Week .
Individuals and companies that sponsor our events are increasing the amount
that is donated to organizations that support homeless people with shelter and services.
The sponsorship levels range from $250-$15,000.
To sponsor a specific event, contact Molly Hahn at 317/956-5255.

Donation of Personal Property
The Foundation will gratefully receive gifts of personal property or real estate.
For more information, contact Molly Hahn at 317/956-5255.


Why You Should Give to the REALTOR® Foundation
If you want to learn more about the Foundation and why you should give....
Check out our Website Click Here for Our Website
Watch our Video  Click Here to Watch our Video


We should all be inspired by the example set by millions of Americans who give generously
(and often at great personal sacrifice) to make the world a better place. quote from givingpledge.org

Have a Great Week and Remember.......
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give -Sir Winston Churchill

Regina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join us today, August 18th for "Feed the Fight"
hosted by Chilis Restaurant  at the Indianapolis Eagle Creek Location
6943 W 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46254-3905


Enjoy Chili's great menu today for lunch or dinner
and help raise $$$ for the homeless....it's that easy!!
Just don’t forget to take a flyer with you!
You can print the flyer here: 
Chilis Flyer 


To get you in the mood for a great meal at Chili's
Check it out:

Chilis with the Office

Chilis at a Baby Shower

Chilis on the Beach 


 Thanks for coming out today and supporting the REALTOR Foundation,  
as we continue to raise money and awareness for the homeless in central Indiana!!

Regina

P.S. Don't get mad at me when that Chili's song stays in your head ALL day!
"I want my baby back, baby back, baby back, baby back
....Chili's Baby Back Ribs"!!  LOL

Have you heard of the Billionaire's Giving Pledge? According to press reports in the last week, 40 US families who are among the wealthiest in the world have committed to give away to charity at least half of their assets either in their lifetime or through estate gifts. The example set by these individuals is astounding. So often, people ask, "Why don't those with more give more?" and to that, this list has responded emphatically that they would. The heartfelt comments by each of them, listed in the press release and on the site, are inspiring. I am particularly struck by this comment from Michael Bloomberg: "If you want to do something for your children and show how much you love them, the single best thing - by far - is to support organizations that will create a better world for them and their children. And by giving, we inspire others to give of themselves, whether their money or their time."

For more info on the Giving Pledge, visit www.givingpledge.org 

 

On your mark, get set....GOLF!!

The 17th annual Foundation golf outing will be held today
on July 22 at Eagle Creek Golf Club. Click Here for Info

Thanks to our Sponsors for making it all possible --> Golf Outing Sponsors
 
I am not a golfer....I have no idea how to keep score in golf....
but I am excited to see everyone today.
It is always great to spend time with our donors, sponsors & grant recipients           
and to watch everyone unwind & enjoy a day of golf at Eagle Creek.

Since I know NOTHING about golf...I will be taking lovely pictures today as well as Tweeting & Facebooking!
You can also catch me, Sue Applegate & Joe Traynor
sittin' pretty in the Dunk Tank later this evening around 6pm

If you are not attending the Golf Outing
but would like to make a contribution please Click Here! 

For every $10 (or greater) donation received today...
I will be dunked in the tank...no ball throwing necessary &
you don't have to be present to dunk the President!!

Regina

“The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done.” Arnold Palmer

“The uglier a man's legs are, the better he plays golf-it's almost a law.” H.G. Wells

Today, July 21st is the day for our "Feed the Fight"! Woo Hoo!
We are thankful that Scotty's Brewhouse
is hosting this event!!

Come out and join us at either Scotty's Indianapolis locations
 Have your business lunch or family dinner at
Scotty's today & help the homeless!!

The 5 Steps to a Successful Feed the Fight!
Step 1: Simply print the coupon/flyer associated with the feed  Click Here for Coupon  
Step 2: Enjoy your Meal (Dine In or To Go) 
Step 3: Present the coupon when you pay your bill.
Step 4: A percentage of your bill will then come back to the Foundation
Step 5: Pass on the coupon via Email, Facebook & Twitter to your friends, family & co-workers...so they can also go out to eat & help raise money for the homeless.
Remember:  You must present coupon at the restaurant!



You can find the REALTOR Foundation & Scotty's on Facebook & Twitter
REALTOR Foundation on Facebook 
REALTOR Foundation on Twitter

Scotty's on Facebook 
Scotty's on Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

Hi! It's Molly Hahn on the Foundation staff. Regina is on vacation this week, and I just couldn't let this incident pass by without comment. It was noted on the Foundation's Facebook page a few days ago.

Thanks to WISH TV's investigative team, we're learning that panhandling with children in tow has been found in other areas of the country as well as here in Indianapolis. While this may be a sign that people are really getting desperate, we also need to keep in mind that in this year's local homeless count, none of the panhandlers at area interstate exits were truly homeless. A handful fo passive solicitors in downtown Indianapolis were homeless. (Check out www.chipindy.org for more information on this year's street count). Almost all of them are choosing to panhandle as their job, and because they play on our emotions with children or various sign messages, they are succeeding.

Do your part: do not give money to panhandlers. Encourage them to get help at area shelters instead. To find out more on the WISH TV investigation, click here: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/i_team_8/i-team-8-investigation%3A-panhandlers. Just as interesting as the story itself are the blog comments posted there.

My son, Dillon is a junior in high school and I have already started to think about his high school graduation.  Next week I will be attending two high school graduation parties. The month of May is an exciting time for students and their families. But for many homeless students graduating from high school and college is only a dream. Take a look at this video featuring homeless student, Victor Cardenas. Victor defies the odds and will not only graduate....he is also the valedictorian! Click Here!  



Homeless mother of two, Latosha Brown graduates from college.Click Here!  Take a look at her story:

 

Congratulations to Victor & Latosha! ~ Regina

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” ~ Anatole France

This Wednesday May 19th, 2010 is the REALTOR Foundation's Feed the Fight.
Dine out & Help the Homeless!
5 Indianapolis area restaurants are participating in this event:

1. Elbow Room Pub
2. Nickel Plate Bar and Grill
3. Broad Ripple Tavern
4. Binkleys Kitchen and Bar
5. Meridian Restaurant and Bar

Great food and great service! Come out this Wednesday for lunch or dinner.
Simply Print this --> COUPON!

For more info on this event Click Here!
 



Hope to see you out and about.....Making a Difference!

I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something;
and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.

Edward Everett Hale 
American Author, Clergyman

I plan on having lunch at the Elbow Room & dinner at the Meridian!
 Hope to see you there...Bring your Coupon and a Friend!

Bon Appétit....Regina J.

 

Happy Cinco De Mayo!
Being a REALTOR & a parent, I spend many hours a day in my vehicle. While in my car I listen to my music all day long. I am the silly person that you notice at a stoplight who is singing loudly in their car. Sometimes I can be caught car dancing as well.  Today as I listened to John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change"  I thought about those folks out there that are not "waiting" but that are actually "doing". Life is too short to wait on anything, especially when there is so much to do to make the world a better place.

So as I celebrate Cinco de Mayo (commemorating the victory of the Mexician militia over the French army at the "Battle of Puebla" in 1862 and should not to be confused w/Mexico's Independence Day which is actually Sept. 16th. ) 
I would also liked to celebrate the following people and events:

Indianapolis Race for the Cure
On April 17, 2010 Indianapolis painted the town PINK!! There were more than 41,000 men, women and children walking or running to help find a cure for breast cancer. The Indianapolis Race for the Cure is the 6th biggest Komen race in the country, so that says so much about the compassion and concern Hoosiers have for others.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Indianapolis chapter hoped to raise more than $2 million, and thanks to you, it met that goal! Check out this video-->Indianapolis Race for the Cure

Homeless Man asked to live on a Billboard
On April 27, 2010 The "I Am Here" project placed a homeless man on a billboard to raise money & awareness for the homeless. Danny's story-->> I AM HERE  Getting Danny on the Billboard -->> Billboard Launch
 
Mobile Loaves & Fishes asked people to text a $10 donation to help Danny. The event was a huge success!! Now Danny & his wife, Maggie have a home. This just shows that a $10 donation can make a difference!!   

World Give Day
Yesterday, May 4th, 2010 was World Give Day ! Although the response to WGD was strong on social media sites such as twitter & facebook, I would like to extend the celebration of World Give Day to World Give Week!!
As many of you already know, the average age of a homeless person is 9 years old. So for the rest of the week, I challenge and encourage people to donate $9 to the REALTOR Foundation  in honor of homeless children worldwide.

I hope everyone has a great Cinco De Mayo! And as much as I enjoy John Mayer as I sing and dance in my car...Let's NOT wait for the world to change!!

Movin' & Shakin' as always,
Regina ♥

Be the change you want to see in the world
~Mahatma Gandhi

Looking forward to Feed the Fight @ UNO's tomorrow! See you there! http://www.mibor.com/realtorfoundation/pdfs/feed_uno.pdf