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.