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The 20th annual Silicon Valley REALTORS® Scholars Program for graduating seniors from 18 public high schools in Silicon Valley is under way. The scholars program is sponsored by the Charitable Foundation Trust of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), a professional trade organization representing over 5,000 Realtors and affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
The Silicon Valley REALTORS® Scholars Program is a partnership with local high schools in the region. Principals and faculty at 18 participating public high schools nominate three exceptional graduating seniors. The program awards a $1,000 scholarship to one nominee from each school in recognition of their exemplary record, outstanding academic performance and community spirit. Since it started, the program has awarded $342,000 to graduating students in Silicon Valley.
The scholars from the class of 2019 will be selected from high schools in the communities served by members of SILVAR. Final selections will be made by a committee that includes representatives from the local business community, area high schools, area colleges and the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®.
“Silicon Valley REALTORS® are very proud of our excellent schools. They are a major reason why Silicon Valley is a top housing market,” said Nina Yamaguchi, chair of the scholars program of the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. “The annual Silicon Valley REALTORS® Scholars Program is an opportunity for our members to show our support for our schools and thank the students, teachers, administrators and school board members in our communities for their hard work and dedication in making the schools in our communities among the best in California and in the nation.”
The participating schools are Leigh High School and Lynbrook High School in San Jose; Westmont High School in Campbell; Fremont High School in Sunnyvale; Los Altos High School in Los Altos; Los Gatos High School in Los Gatos; Gunn High School and Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto; Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton; Santa Clara High School and Wilcox High School in Santa Clara; Cupertino High School, Homestead High School and Monta Vista High School in Cupertino; Prospect High School and Saratoga High School in Saratoga; Mountain View High School in Mountain View; and Woodside High School in Woodside.
The scholarship is open to graduating seniors from the above-mentioned high schools who plan on attending a four-year college or university. Information about the scholarships, including requirements and applications, may be obtained from the respective schools’ guidance or career counselors.
The completed application must be returned to the high school’s counselor by Monday, March 4, for submission to the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. For further information, please contact Nina Yamaguchi at (408) 861-8822 or nyamaguchi@cbnorcal.com.
SILVAR members recognized.
A REALTOR® for over four decades, Phyllis Carmichael has achieved so much for the Association in many different roles. She is pictured here with 2018 SILVAR president Bill Moody and Executive Officer Paul Cardus.
A highlight of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® Installation Gala last night was the presentation of the 2018 Recognition Awards by SILVAR 2018 President Bill Moody and Executive Officer Paul Cardus. The awards recognize certain members for their valuable contributions to the Association last year.
Moody first thanked his fellow board members and committee chairs for their support last year. He said it has been a privilege to serve SILVAR’s membership as president.
Recognized for their outstanding contributions were:
2018 REALTOR® of the Year: Phyllis Carmichael (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
The announcement of REALTOR® of the Year was met with loud applause and cheers. Moody described Phyllis Carmichael as a REALTOR® “who brings forward the best in any board or committee on which they serve.” Moody said Carmichael’s ability to build consensus while pursuing the bold path forward is a hallmark of her decades of service.
A REALTOR® for over four decades, Carmichael has achieved so much for the Association in many different roles. As director, president and treasurer, at the California Association of REALTORS®, on issues ranging from political to governance to financial, she has shared her tremendous expertise with SILVAR and its members.
“Through strong and calm leadership, always with a twinkle and a smile, even in tense moments, she created and grew our Association,” said Moody. “She is sharp, skilled and effective. She is our happy warrior.”
2018 Affiliate of the Year: Audrey Hutton (Hutton Mortgage Team)
The Affiliate of the Year is someone through his or her actions has unequivocally embraced and adopted the principles, goals, and purposes of the Association. Moody said Audrey Hutton “has proven to be a dedicated workhorse and a great proponent of our Association.” He noted Hutton’s firm provides mortgage services in a timely manner with great attention to detail for SILVAR’s REALTOR® members and their clients. He praised her professional support for all SILVAR programs across the Association, with a particular dedication to her home district, Los Gatos-Saratoga.
“Her willingness to help where needed enhances the image of our Association and our REALTOR® and affiliated professional members,” said Moody.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) 2019 leadership team was installed last night at the Los Altos Golf & Country Club. California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) 2019 President-elect Jeanne Radsick administered the oath of office to SILVAR President Alan Barbic and the 2019 officers and board directors. C.A.R. 2005 President Jim Hamilton served as master of ceremonies and welcomed members and guests at the special event. Immediate Past President Bill Moody led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance and 2019 President-elect Mary Kay Groth delivered the inspiration message.
SILVAR’s 2019 officers include Barbic, a broker associate with Sereno Group Los Gatos; Groth, a REALTOR® with Sereno Group Los Gatos, President-elect; and Jeff Bell, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cupertino, Treasurer.
Joining SILVAR’s lead officers are Moody (Referral Realty), Past President; Denise Welsh (Alain Pinel Realtors), Region 9 Chair; Leannah Hunt (Sereno Group), NAR Director; Jasmine Lee (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage), Menlo Park-Atherton District; Lynn Wilson Roberts (Compass) Palo Alto District; Greg Boudreau (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage), Los Altos-Mountain View District; Jim Light (Jim Light Broker), Cupertino-Sunnyvale District; Jim Hamilton (Alain Pinel Realtors), Los Gatos-Saratoga District; Directors At-large Mark Burns (Referral Realty), Joanne Fraser (Alain Pinel Realtors), Katherine Frey (Katherine Frey Real Estate), Penelope Huang (Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Real Estate), and Karen Trolan (Alain Pinel Realtors).
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® Los Gatos-Saratoga District got off to a good start for the new year with over 100 members in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting. An upbeat District Chair Jim Hamilton told members 2019 “will be what you make it.”
The first meeting featured a top producer panel with Carol Jeans (Sereno Group), Michael Nevis (Alain Pinel Realtors), Mary Clark (Intero Real Estate Services), Chuck Nunnally (Keller Williams Bay Area Estates) and Audrey Hutton (Hutton Mortgage Group).
The panelists, all experienced in the business, are doers and work hard. Nevis said “the knowledge that this is my business” is what motivates him each day. Nunnally stressed real estate takes hard work and like a hunt, he is constantly searching for business.
Asked their thoughts on forming teams, Nunnally, Jeans and Clark prefer to be independent, while Hutton believes teams are important to grow your business. Her team is comprised of five people who each have roles in the business. Nevis also has a team and finds it serves as a good sounding board. He did note you have to really get to know the person before forming a team.
The top producers stressed the importance of referrals. Referrals only happen through relationships and maintaining then, said Nevis. He likes to invite clients to his home for dinner, to meet his family and get a glimpse of his lifestyle.
“This way things are more real, more personal than talking about average price and days on market,” said Nevis.
Hutton likes to wow her clients, pleasantly surprising them with candy and the like. She holds parties and education classes for past clients.
The REALTORS® stressed the need to get to know clients at an intimate level and connect frequently. Jeans likes to write her past clients, while Clark likes to stop by their home twice a year to connect. She also holds annual client appreciation parties or invites them to events, like a Giants game.
“Keep in touch with past clients and show them your care,” said Nunnally. “This is a people business.”
The REALTORS® said the 2019 housing market may not be as fast and furious as in the past, but they don’t believe it will crash and burn either. Nunnally advises agents to attend seminars, get educated about the market, and spend money. You need to spend money in order to make money in real estate, he said.
Jeans encourages agents to learn as much as they can, work with discipline, build relationships and “remain who you are in the business.” She believes there will always be a demand for homes in the region.
Nevis encourages agents to team up with someone with experience and “find your cheerleaders,” while Hutton advises agents to be specific, have a purpose, and share their goals with their clients.
“This year will be awesome. There is opportunity in any market,” said Clark.
The Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation donated $44,665 in 2018 to different non-profit organizations that help homeless and low-income individuals and families in Silicon Valley. Funds this year also went to scholarships for graduating seniors from public high schools in the region.
The Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation is a trust which makes grants available to organizations from donations by REALTORS® and affiliate members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR). In addition to voluntary contributions from members, grants are funded by proceeds from SILVAR’s district fundraisers. The Los Altos-Mountain View District annual pumpkin auction in October raised $5,500, which the district donated to the foundation. Net proceeds of $2,389.75 from the Los Gatos-Saratoga District’s annual bocce ball tournament were also donated to the foundation.
“With rising home prices and rents, these are hard times for many residents. More people are being displaced and are homeless, poverty is on the rise in Silicon Valley. We thank our members for being so generous in supporting the foundation this year,” said Eileen Giorgi, president of the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. “With our members’ continued support and contributions to the communities where they work and live, we are thankful that we are able to continue our commitment to the welfare and prosperity of these communities.”
The 2018 grant recipients include Adolescent Counseling Services, which provides a network of skilled family therapists and support groups for teens and young adults in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties; East Palo Alto Kids Foundation, which promotes educational opportunities for students in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park; Westwind 4-H Riding for the Handicapped, which provides children with disabilities the opportunity to have fun while improving their coordination and strengthening their muscles; Youth Community Service, which provides service learning and leadership activities to underserved students in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Palo Alto; and Community Services Agency, which provides social services, such as emergency one-time rent and utility financial support, vouchers for clothing, eyeglasses, school supplies, food and more for residents of Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
SILVAR’s districts, through the Charitable Foundation, likewise made donations to local organizations in 2018. The Los Gatos-Saratoga District donated $6,835 and an additional $200 that it raised at the annual District pumpkin auction to the Family Giving Tree’s Operation Reindeer program for holiday gifts, including clothing essentials and food certificates, to needy families and seniors in the community. The Cupertino-Sunnyvale District presented $750 each to West Valley Community Services and Sunnyvale Community Services for their respective backpack programs for low-income students, and $1,250 to the Sunnyvale K9 Unit to provide necessary equipment, like vests for its police dogs. The Los Altos-Mountain View District fall legal update raised $880, which the district donated to Community Services Agency.
In 2018, the Charitable Foundation Scholars Program presented a $1,000 grant to each of 18 graduating seniors from public high schools in Silicon Valley. The foundation has been assisting students with the scholarship grants for the past 19 years, awarding a total of $342,000 in scholarships to date.
The Charitable Foundation also supports further education for U.S. veterans. This year, The John Tripp Silicon Valley REALTOR® Scholarship granted its second $500 award to veterans enrolled at Foothill and DeAnza colleges. In 2016, the foundation presented $25,000 to Foothill-De Anza Foundation, an auxiliary organization of the Foothill-De Anza Community Colleges District for the creation of the endowment. The late John Tripp was a veteran of the Korean War and past president of SILVAR and the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation.
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says ... 