Finally – It’s here! It seems that many of us have been waiting for 2012 for one reason or another. There are so many exciting things going on this year, and that’s why my blog is all about the ‘buzz’ that we’re creating here in Indy. As REALTORS®, we should be proud of all that our city has to offer and proud to be part of the biggest event in the world on February 5.

Already this year, I have seen indications that great events are upon us. Just last weekend, I attended the opening and dedication of the CommonWealth, which is a mixed use apartment building built out of a historic school on the Near Eastside. This project is one of at least 20 that the REALTOR® Foundation will affect this year. There were three media outlets present at the dedication – here is a sample of what they reported: http://www.wthr.com/story/16521727/super-bowl-project-turns-school-into-housing#.TxLz-wCXl7g.facebook

I was there just about a year ago when we presented our first check, and I shot this video while I was there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iFkv9BWHkY&feature=youtu.be  What an amazing transformation and preservation of the building!

I look forward to being your Foundation president in this momentous year. I feel particularly lucky to be part of the Foundation’s work each time I visit a new grant recipient and learn about all of the different kinds of people who are being served. It’s truly eye-opening to understand that homelessness extends far beyond the beggars you see on the street in downtown Indy. As we highlight those organizations this year, feel free to connect with me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/BrightSideTeam

As they say, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

Over the past several days, Foundation Directors and Ambassadors have made check presentations to several of our 2012 grant recipients.  These visits once again remind each of us how important these organizations are to our communities.  Each recipient has many success stories—individuals and families, once challenged daily to survive, are achieving more than they ever dreamed.   Many are living in safe and permanent housing, working, and providing a stable environment for their children.   These dreams are possible because of the wonderful organizations providing the support and education to help people less fortunate learn the skills they need to succeed.

We all know how difficult these economic times are, and our recipients are certainly experiencing the loss of income due to lack of funding.   Please help your Foundation help others—the need is great.  We are still short of the goal line with time running out—we need your help and every dollar is critical to get us over the goal line.

Thank you for your support! Click here to donate now and help us make more grants a reality!

Time seems to fly so quickly—it has been too long since my last message. 

December has arrived and we have a lot to accomplish before year’s end.  With the game on the line, we need one final push to score and WIN!  Our grant recipients are depending on us so please help us help others.  The needs are basic—an industrial stove for one shelter, short term rental assistance for another, and a staff person to assist shelter graduates find permanent housing.

We have many success stories from our past grant recipients which I hope to share by year’s end.  These wins could not happen with your support.

In closing, I must note the passing of Pooch Hunter, current Foundation Director.  Pooch lived his life helping others, and at 80+ years old was serving on our Board. Pooch was passionate about our mission—providing safe housing for those in need.  He challenged all of us to do more, and he believed our industry should take the lead in ending homelessness.  We will all miss Pooch but his passion will be with us always.

I ask each of you to make a donation in memory of our friend, Pooch Hunter.

It’s the 4^th Quarter—game on the line and we’re in the RED ZONE—it’s 4^th down and 1 to go with time expiring.

Will we cross the goal line? There is so much at stake and we must make that final yard.  The pressure is mounting—everyone on the TEAM must perform at the highest level to push us to victory!

Yesterday, along with my Foundation Grants committee teammates, 29 grant requests were reviewed—our highest number of requests in Foundation history. All organizations are deserving and all are committed to improving the quality of life in our community.  Providing a helping hand to those in need is an important component of improving our cities and towns.

The poor economy has “hit us hard and knocked us back a few yards”.  It has hit us all but some harder than others. The largest segment of homeless or at risk of homelessness is families.  Most of these families have never been faced with this type of situation and are not sure how to find help.  These families are our  friends, neighbors, and loved ones. 

Please join our team—help us cross the goal line – help us help those who are truly doing their best to help themselves, but need a hand to help them. 

It takes little to join our team—a few dollars will help us inch closer to the goal line.   Your sacrifice to make the team—one less Starbucks or lunch out with friends this week.  Believe  me, your donation will have a direct impact on the lives of families in need. Find out more at www.realtorfoundation.org

This morning, I read in the Indianapolis Star what many of us already know: that the average household income has decreased in the last couple of years and that we are still struggling as a community. I also read about 42 families who were displaced last night due to a fire in their apartment complex – a tragedy that no one could predict.

While sometimes I feel disheartened by news like this, I am comforted by the fact that we as a Foundation do all we can to help our fellow Hoosiers. Just consider: in the last month, we celebrated a successful REALTOR® Foundation Awareness Week, in which we raised $8,300. We made a true impact on the St. Clair Place neighborhood with trash pick-up and flower planting. Seventeen families have moved into the Building a Living Legacy homes with 150 on the waiting list.

Looking ahead, we still need your help.

We have received 29 applications for funding for 2012 from area organizations, the most ever. They requested more than $400,000 in grants, and sadly, we believe that we will not be able to fulfill nearly three-fourths of those. Fifteen families have yet to move in to the Building a Living Legacy homes, and the fundraising for that project continues with nearly $65,000 left to raise.

Hello folks! It’s Coach Scotten here, happy that the NFL season will officially start this weekend, signifying that the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis is definitely on the calendar.

I’m sure you’ve all noticed or somehow been affected by the start of school this week. Buses everywhere; school zone speed limits; school supplies in stores; parents running around to get the routine in place once again. While my own children are long past that stage, I still feel the excitement of the start of school and football season.

This year, I have been thinking more about the children who don’t have a place to sleep at night, or who get the best (or only) meal of the day at the school cafeteria. While a few hundred children sleep in shelters each night, nearly 3,000 children in Marion County schools are “unattached” to a permanent house. They might sleep with aunts or grandparents or friends or in cars or in hotels. How can we expect these children to do homework when they are without a home?

As the start of school gets us all on new schedules, let’s keep these children in mind.