HG Realtor Foundation Launches New Committee To Fill Volunteer Needs for Supported Charities
Mary Prenon | June 20, 2019
WHITE PLAINS—The Hudson Gateway REALTOR Foundation has launched a new Program Committee dedicated to filling the volunteer needs for the charities and non-profit organizations that it supports.
The new committee, chaired by Gail Fattizzi, HGAR President-elect, has been busy organizing various volunteer projects and will be inviting the HGAR membership to participate. “The Foundation has done a terrific job of raising money and distributing grants to many area non-profits the last few years,” said Fattizzi. “As a result, we’ve had the opportunity to see first-hand what a tremendous difference these agencies make in so many lives, and we wanted to be more hands-on in helping where we can.”
The first volunteer effort took place on June 19 at Caritas of Port Chester, which provides food, clothing, counseling and educational services for anyone in need in Port Chester and the surrounding area. A group of a dozen HGAR Realtor and Affiliate members helped to pack food bags from their food pantry.
Next month, HGAR members will be asked to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh at a home building on July 11, as well as on September 12. They can choose one or both dates. Founded in 1999, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh helps to revitalize Newburgh’s neighborhoods and help local hard-working, low-income families to create strength, stability, and self-reliance through home ownership.
A July 24 volunteer painting and power washing event has been planned for the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center in Pomona. Hi-Tor gives temporary refuge to almost 2,500 animals per year and is the only open admission shelter in Rockland County.
The last summer volunteer events are planned for July 29 and August 13 at Friends of Karen in North Salem. Friends of Karen has been providing emotional, financial and advocacy support for children with a life-threatening illness and their families since 1978. Realtors will be asked to help pack backpacks with school supplies.
“We hope these volunteer efforts will also create more awareness about the Foundation, and enable us to raise even more money that we can distribute to agencies in our many communities,” Fattizzi said.
The volunteer events will be listed in HGAR’s Monday morning “Connections” e-mail with registration links for the various projects.
Established in 2004 and relaunched in 2013, the HG Realtor Foundation has donated thousands of dollars to charities and non-profits throughout the Hudson Valley. As concerned members of the communities they work in, the Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation participates in qualified community-based charities that serve the housing, hunger, health, happiness and humane needs of citizens everywhere.
For more information or to apply for funding from the Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation, please visit www.hgrealtorfoundation.com.
HGAR, Director of Communications