Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® Foundation

Mission Statement

The mission of the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® Foundation is to identify and financially support those non-profit charitable organizations which enrich the quality of life and support the human need of the Greater Harrisburg community.

Foundation Structure

The Foundation is incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has tax exempt status under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^®, Inc. While under the auspices and guidance of the Association, the Foundation has its own ten-member Board of Directors which guides the policy and direction of the Foundation. 

The Foundation is directly responsible for all charitable projects which may be undertaken by the Association.  Through the use of volunteers for nearly all of its operation along with the support of the Association, administrative costs are kept to a bare minimum.

Any questions about the Foundation, its projects, or how to make a contribution, may be directed to the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® office at (717) 364-3200.

Board of Directors

President
Michelle A. Foose, ABR
Homestead Group, Inc REALTOR^®
4705 Market Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Phone: 717-763-7500   FAX: 717-763-0290

Vice President
Martha S. Garrett, ABR, SRES
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
5137 Devonshire Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: 717-652-7260   FAX: 717-652-9261

Secretary/Treasurer
Jodi F. Diego
Jack Gaughen REALTOR^® ERA
3915 Market Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Phone: 717-761-4800   FAX: 717-761-1495

Past President
Michael J. Holland, ABR
Prudential Homesale Services Group
2232 Lebanon Valley Mall
Lebanon, PA 17042
Phone: 717-273-3774   FAX: 717-273-2885

Directors
Jamie B. Berrier, ABR
RSR REALTORS^®
3 Lemoyne Drive, Suite 100
Lemoyne, PA 17043
Phone: 717-763-1212   FAX: 717-763-1656
Term expires 2009

Arthur D. Campbell
Campbell Commercial Real Estate
300 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 201
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Phone: 717-737-6161   FAX: 717-737-9640
Term expires 2008

Marlo Heagy
Jack Gaughen REALTOR^® ERA
5050 Linglestown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: 717-652-6015   FAX: 717-652-8047
Term expires 2009

Gary J. Muccio, ABR
RE/MAX Realty Associates
3425 Market Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011
Phone: 717-761-6300   FAX: 717-761-1455
Term expires 2010

Phyllis M. Sills, ABR
RE/MAX Realty Professionals
1250 North Mountain Road, Suite 1
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: 717-652-4700   FAX: 717-652-5180
Term expires 2009

Susan A. Stewart
George L. Ebener and Associates
139 West High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: 717-243-6195   FAX: 717-245-0699
Term expires 2010

Ex-Officio:
Kathleen S. Ludwig
Executive Vice President
Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^®
424 N. Enola Drive, Suite 1, Enola, PA 17025
Phone 717-364-3200   FAX 717-364-3206

History

The Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® Foundation was formally organized in 1990, building on the Association’s history of community involvement. Over the years, the Association has been involved in projects such as Neighborhood Watch, revitalization and clean-up projects, and scholarships.  The Association's Youth Watch program in the early and mid-1980's was extremely successful in teaching young children important safety tips, and won national and state awards.

The Foundation has also been involved with a Personal Care Drive, a collection of personal care items; a Holiday Gift Project for the children of needy families; and the Harrisburg area Christmas in April, repairing the homes of low income homeowners, particularly those elderly and with disabilities.

In recent years, the Foundation has shifted its focus to raising funds to support non profit organizations in the Harrisburg area. Fundraisers and direct contributions are the major source of funds for the REALTORS^® Foundation. Typical fundraising events include Comedy Night, Mini-golf, Regular golf, Auction and Bowl-a-thon.

Primary Focus

Each year in December, the Foundation sends out a call for new grant applicants. Applications are due in early March and are interviewed in Mid March.  From the applications, the Foundation selects one or more organizations for which to raise money through various fundraising events and our capital campaign.

Potential recipients identified for this major endeavor are carefully scrutinized for alignment with the Foundation's mission, compliance with federal and state charitable regulations and overall viability.

Click HERE to download a Grant Application Form

Grant Recipients

Each year, the Foundation sends out a call for new grant applicants. From the applicants, the Foundation selects one or more organizations for which to raise money through various fundraising events and our Capital Campaign.

Since 1993, the Foundation has donated a total of over
 $480,031 to the following organizations:

Thanksgiving Food Drive 

Since 1986, our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive has provided boxes of food items and turkeys for distribution to needy families. Each box with a turkey represents about 60 pounds of food. Approximately 90 REALTOR^® and Affiliate member firms and offices from our three county area participate each year.

Volunteers for this event are numerous. On delivery day, students from local schools help lift and carry over 400 boxes of food to the vehicles of area agencies.

The recipients of the Food Drive include:

Delta Housing, New Hope Ministries,
Upper Dauphin Human Services, Hummelstown Ministries, Cumberland County Children and Youth,
Zion Lutheran Church in Union Deposit, Middletown Community Action Commission, Shared Ministries,
West Fairview Fire Company, Perry County Food Bank, Fountain Gate Church and Ministries, Harris Street United Methodist Church, Neighborhood Center of the United Methodist Church, The Millennium Church of
God in Christ, The New Hope Living Baptist Church,
Martin Luther King Baptist Church, Antioch Tabernacle.

The Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® Foundation, through area agencies, helps more than 2,000 people each year to have a happy and bountiful Thanksgiving holiday.

Capital Campaign
Since 1993, the Foundation has donated a total of over $450,000 to housing and shelter related organizations in the greater Harrisburg area. To help raise the money, the Foundation holds various fundraising events including a mini golf tournament, a golf outing, a Comedy Night and a bowl-a-thon. In addition to these events the Foundation holds an annual Capital Campaign.

During the Capital Campaign, the Foundation asks each REALTOR^® to give a minimum contribution of $10. All funds go back to the communities in which we live. Our goal is $16,000.

Download a Pledge Form

Return with Payment to:
Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS Foundation
424 N. Enola Drive, Suite 1
Enola, PA 17025

Partnerships with Habitat for Humanity

In 2004, the Foundation made a huge commitment by deciding to build a house for Habitat for Humanity and further decided to designate all the monies collected from that year's Capital Campaign to go to the building of the Habitat for Humanity house.  The Capital Campaign committee solicited monies and sponsors for the house from REALTOR^® members, our affiliate members, and our business partners.  We are please to say that REALTORS^® Working Together Raised the Roof for Habitat for Humanity.  This Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® house is located on North 13th Street in Harrisburg.

In 2006, the Foundation continued its pledge to provide affordable housing to families needing a helping hand.  Through our partnership with Cumberland Valley Habitat for Humanity, we built another Habitat House at 174 West Penn Street in Carlisle.  Sponsorships and monies for the house were garnered from our REALTOR^® members, our affiliate members and our business partners through the annual Capital Campaign. 

Fundraising and Contributions

Fundraisers and the annual Capital Campaign are the major sources of funds for the Foundation.  Our traditional fundraisers include a Comedy Night, Mini Golf Tournament, Golf Tournament and Auction.  Each of our grant recipients is asked to assist in fundraising events.

Each member office and REALTOR^® member of the Association is asked to participate in the Capital Campaign. 

In addition to its planned fundraisers, REALTORS^® and others may make direct charitable contributions, including memorial contributions, to the Foundation at any time. All contributions are tax deductible.

All contributions will be held in the Foundation account, subject to supervision by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and an annual audit by a CPA firm, until payment to a selected project or group is approved.  Donated funds may be applied to any of the projects supported by the Foundation, subject to the requirements of maintaining tax-exempt status.

The Foundation is also regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the “Solicitation of Funds For Charitable Purposes Act.”  A copy of the official registration  and financial information for the Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999.  Registration does not imply endorsement.

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