In my last post, I asked what homelessness means to you. Thanks to 60 Minutes, here's a look at children who are hungry and homeless. In the quest to define the face of the homeless, this is truly moving. Click the link below to see the piece from 60 Minutes - and then comment on it if it has changed your idea of homelessness!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7358670n&tag=related;photovideo

I admit it, as much as I know that homelessness encompasses a wide range of people, the first thing I think of when I hear ‘homelessness’ is the man who used to hang out behind my building downtown. And yet, when the Foundation does its annual grant review, we find so many more folks who are part of this word. What other terms can we use? “Housing challenged”? “The many faces of the homeless”? In short, we need a way to describe the full range of people who need our help – even at the board level we struggle with this. We’re open to your comments and thoughts! What we want you to know is this: homelessness means much more to us than the street homeless, who often choose to live that way.

Hi everyone - Coach Scotten here again!

The 2011 Board Retreat is now history—it was a very successful meeting—great brainstorming and great ideas.  Our group is totally focused on growth.  The potential to help so many more in our local communities became very apparent and we now realize this is a goal we can accomplish.

All of us are committed to moving our homeless population into housing—we can and will improve many lives as well as our communities.  This will be a Super Bowl win for this team!!!

Here's our own Dan Bowden, this year's Foundation treasurer, giving his reasons for being involved:

Click Here to Watch the Video!

Happy New Year!!

Well, Regina may have called me a sheriff, but I’d like to take on a slightly different personality this year – one of “Coach Scotten”, not to be confused with my husband, “Coach Leonard Scotten” as many in Greenwood know him. Coach Joyce Scotten will bring you commentary throughout 2011 that will be aimed at educating you, our loyal readers, on the ins and outs of our neighbors living in poverty in America. I will invite you to submit your own opinions on how we treat each other in Central Indiana and the rest of the world. I will raise tough questions about solving homelessness, the challenges, and the differences between someone living on the streets by choice and someone who is trying to get back on his or her feet.

Over the past few weeks I have been especially thoughtful of the story of Ted Williams, the man who was homeless in Columbus, Ohio and within a matter of hours found himself with multiple job offers and requests to appear on national TV programs. 

What do you think of this man? Does his story give you hope that everyone could come out of homelessness? Do you think his voice alone is worth the job offers rolling in for him from across the country? Do you believe he has the tools to remain housed and employed?

If you haven’t seen the clip from the Today Show last week, I am linking it here. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40944077/ns/today-today_people/  

Thanks in advance for following the Foundation’s activity through this blog and our social media sites. We look forward to a great 2011.

Coach Scotten

Okay, this is not the Wild Wild West!
But it is my last blog!

As we say goodbye to 2010 and embrace 2011,
I would like to welcome
Joyce Scotten
as the 2011 REALTOR® Foundation President!



Sheriff Scotten may sound a little dramatic.....but Joyce is well on her way
to make 2011 the Foundation's best year ever!!
The photo above is Joyce volunteering her time at the Dayspring Center.
For info on the Dayspring Center Click Here  

Although 2010 is now in the past....the money we have raised in 2010 
will be helping many homeless families & individuals in 2011!!

I am proud to say that in 2010
not only did we reach our goal of
$100,000
but we raised over $103,000
How amazing is that......Woo Hoo!!

As I wrap up my blog....I just want to remind you of why we are involved.
Actually, why Kaye Hirt-Eggleston, 2009 REALTOR® Foundation President
has been involved:



Here’s why I’m involved: 
“There, but by the grace of God, go I!” 
Many years ago as a single parent of four young children,
I found myself unemployed and far away from family. 
But thanks to the caring and generosity of family and friends,
we were able to continue our lives and rebuild them. 
What better way to help those who find themselves unable to manage than to support the agencies and people who do such a phenomenal and loving job of helping those in need? I am so thankful to be able to play a small part in the lives they touch and share the memory of my parents who ‘lived’ real estate successfully for so many years!

Thanks to Kaye & the Board of Directors
for all they have done to serve our communiuty.

 I will leave you with this quote:
"I am only one, but I am one. 
I cannot do everything, but I can do something. 
And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." 
~Edward Everett Hale

It has been an honor to be part of the REALTOR® Foundation.
Everything that I do to serve others,
I do in memory of my parents
Carolyn Sue Brown, Alphonzo Easley & Stanley Brown
~Regina L. Jones, the old Sheriff (lol)
aka Immediate Past President
 

Happy New Year to our
Donors, Sponsors, Ambassadors,
Board of Directors & Staff! 

 

We want to wish our
Donors, Sponsors, Ambassadors & Grant Recipients
a very
Merry Christmas
&
Happy Holidays!!


I would also like to send a Merry Christmas
shout out to
Rock Bottom Brewery (Downtown Indianapolis)
&
the Rock Bottom Foundation

This Christmas Day will mark their 7th annual
"Miracle on Washington St."

For the 7th year, over 400 homeless and displaced guests from
Indianapolis area shelters will arrive at Rock Bottom,
downtown Indianapolis for a Christmas Day celebration.

Each guest will receive a warm welcome and an extraordinary dining experience.
Seated at tables dressed in white linens and napkins, silverware and china, guests will enjoy a traditional meal complete with all the trimmings!

For more information on the Miracle on Washington St. Click Here

Today, December 21, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.
Indianapolis will remember the 37 homeless people who died this year.



The homeless are often invisible, their lives lived mostly on the fringes of society.
Their deaths might be equally anonymous if not for the efforts of local advocates.Today, just as it has done in most years since 1996, the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention will hold the Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service to remember the city’s homeless who died this year.

The 11 a.m. service at Christ Church Cathedral on
Monument Circle downtown is open to the public.

The service will include remarks by two formerly homeless people
who now live in transitional housing and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.

The service will be followed by a free lunch for the homeless, formerly homeless,
service providers and volunteers in attendance.

"Honor the dead by showing compassion for the living"
~M.P. Garofalo

I am sending Peace, Prayer & Light to the 37 people whose
lives are being honored today. ~Regina

Check out my Christmas Story:



Last week I took a look to see how much money the REALTOR® Foundation
had raised so far this year.
I found that we were still short, somewhere between $15k-$20k.
Our Goal is to raise $100,000 to help the homeless in central Indiana!!

So, with that on my mind, I decided to spread the word via facebook & twitter.
To let my family, friends & twitter followers know that we still needed donations.
I also posted tweets to people that I follow on twitter (including a few celebrities).

My hope was to spread my message and to generate awareness
and maybe donations.   

So, I posted a tweet to Mr. Jim Irsay:



And here was his reply:



Yes, Regina, There is a Santa Claus!!

This Santa doesn't wear red & white.
He wears blue & white (Colts Blue to be exact)!!

Christmas arrived early for the REALTOR® Foundation!!
What an amazing moment that was....when I read that tweet
& then later spoke to Mr. Irsay!!

The Jim Irsay Family & the Indianapolis Colts donated
$5,000
to the REALTOR® Foundation!! Woo Hoo!! ♥

The REALTOR® Foundation Board of Directors are very thankful
to the Jim Irsay Family & the Indianapolis Colts!!
Thanks for helping us move that much closer to our Goal!

I would also like to thank a few of my favorite tweople on twitter that retweeted my message to their followers:
@slessard, @sinbadbad, @romarley, @katiegriffin23, @thisisrobthomas, @bothetrainer, @ambertheginger, @brightsideteam, @entaoed, @richie_365
&
To those that have reposted my message on Facebook!

"We make a living by what we get, but a life by what we give"
~Winston Churchill

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL CLICK HERE TO GIVE  

CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR VIDEO

Merry Christmas & Happy Festivus to ALL of our Donors!!!
Regina ♥

Follow us on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/realtorfnd 
Become a Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/realtorfoundation

Thank You to Our Donors!
$80,589 has been raised to help the homeless in central Indiana 
as of December 9, 2010.

We are soooo close to $100,000!!!
I am keeping my fingers crossed.....21 days left in the year!!

Check out the beautiful faces of those that benefit from your Donations:



We still have HOPE to reach our GOAL!

Please pass this along to your friends, family & co-workers

Click Here to Make a Donation

Click Here to Watch Our Video


A Few Facts to Remember:

1. Victims of domestic violence
make up about 20 percent of the local homeless population

2. Between 4,500 and 7,500 people will be
homeless in Indianapolis this year

3. In Marion County, 2,972 students do not have a home.
Of those, 91 percent are living 'doubled up'

4. Families make up about 39 percent
of the local homeless population

5. 19 percent of homeless adults have jobs



"Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting."

We have not forgotten all that our donors, sponsors & volunteers
have done for the homeless in central Indiana

THANK YOU, GRACIAS, MERCI, DANKE

♥Regina

 

 

 

During this time, we remind one another of our good fortunes
by Giving Thanks. 
And we become more conscious of those in need.



So, as we count down the days to Thanksgiving,
let's Give Thanks by Giving Back! 

I am asking everyone to take time and make a donation today
to help the homeless in central Indiana.

To make a donation to the REALTOR Foundation
Simply Click Here


See the Faces of the families that are in need of our help & donations.
Take a moment and
View this Wonderful video of Dayspring Center by Clicking Here




“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” –Albert Pine



"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.
It's a way to live."

"No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted." ~Aesop

Happy Thanksgiving!!!