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The Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation donated $93,000 in 2016 to non-profit organizations that help the 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 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 the local trade association’s district fundraisers, like the Los Gatos/Saratoga District Annual Bocce Ball Tournament and the Los Altos/Mountain View District Annual Pumpkin Auction. SILVAR represents over 5,000 REALTORS® and affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
The 2016 Charitable Foundation 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; Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, which seeks to provide stability to children who have experienced abuse and neglect; East Palo Alto Kids Foundation, which promotes educational opportunities for students in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park; Friends of Deer Hollow Farm, an educational farm located in the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve; JustRead, a cross-generational program composed of retired professionals who teach reading and writing basics to students who did not learn these skills in earlier grades; LifeMoves, which provides services to enable the homeless to return to stable housing and self-sufficiency; 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; and Youth Community Services, which provides service learning and leadership activities to underserved students in East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Palo Alto.
From money raised to support further education for U.S. veterans, the Charitable Foundation presented $10,000 each to Palo Alto University and West Valley Community College, and $25,000 to Foothill-De Anza Foundation, an auxiliary organization of the Foothill-De Anza Community Colleges District for the creation of “The John Tripp – Silicon Valley REALTORS® Veterans Scholarship Endowment.” The late John Tripp was a veteran of the Korean War and past president of SILVAR and the Charitable Foundation.
As part of its annual scholarship program, the Charitable Foundation 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 17 years. SILVAR’s districts, through the Foundation, also donated $6,195 raised at the annual Los Gatos/Saratoga District Pumpkin Auction to the Family Giving Tree for Operation Reindeer; $1,350 each to the West Valley Community Services and Sunnyvale Community Services backpack programs for needy students and $1,000 to the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation raised by the Cupertino/Sunnyvale District; and $1,797 raised by the Los Altos/Mountain View District at its spring and fall Legal Updates to Community Services Agency.
“It has become more costly to live in Silicon Valley, so we thank our members for being so generous in supporting the foundation year after year,” said Eileen Giorgi, president of the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. “With our members’ continued support for and contributions to the communities where they work and live, we are able to continue our commitment to the welfare and prosperity of these communities.”
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Left to right are SILVAR Los Altos/Mountain View District Chair Katherine Frey, President Karen Trolan, President-elect Denise Welsh, De Anza College Development Director Dennis Cima, Dean of the Disability Resource Center & Veterans Programs at Foothill College Teresa Ong, Foothill-De Anza Colleges Foundation Executive Director Tess Chandler, and Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation President Eileen Giorgi. the presentation took place at the December 16 Los Altos/Mountain View District Holiday Breakfast at the Los Altos Golf & Country Club.
The Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), has created a scholarship endowment for student veterans at Foothill and De Anza Colleges. “The John Tripp-Silicon Valley REALTORS® Veterans Scholarship Endowment” was formally presented to officials of both colleges last week at the Los Altos Golf and Country Club.
The scholarship endowment was created by the REALTOR® foundation in memory of John Tripp, a longtime REALTOR® who died on December 27, 2015. Tripp was a veteran of the Korean War and served his country with honor and distinction from 1947 to 1956.
A REALTOR® for over 50 years and past president of SILVAR and its charitable foundation, Tripp was instrumental in “REALTORS® Honor Veterans,” the fundraising event held last year to establish a veterans scholarship fund to support eligible U.S. veterans residing in SILVAR’s traditional service area who wish to further their education. The event raised approximately $40,000.
Earlier this year, the foundation presented $10,000 each to Palo Alto University and West Valley College. The remaining funds went to the scholarship endowment to Foothill-De Anza Foundation, an auxiliary organization of the Foothill-De Anza Community Colleges District.
“In all he did, John emphasized education, ethics and the Golden Rule. The opportunity to grow through education was very near and dear to his heart, and with the establishment of this endowment, we honor his contributions to our community and our profession,” said Charitable Foundation president Eileen Giorgi.
“This is a perpetual scholarship that will grow through the years and be here even after we are all gone,” said Tess Chandler, executive director of Foothill-De Anza Foundation. “This endowment will give our student veterans from both colleges needed assistance to reach their academic goals.”
The endowment will pay out a $1,000 award each year – $500 for a student veteran on each campus. The awards can be used for book vouchers student fees and/or other education expenses.
The Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation this week presented West Valley College President Bradley Davis with a check for $10,000 to provide assistance to U.S. veterans through the SILVAR Veterans Scholarship Fund.
The Foundation is the charitable arm of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), a professional trade organization representing over 4,500 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The SILVAR Veterans Scholarship Fund is designed to support eligible U.S. veterans residing in SILVAR’s traditional service area who wish to further their education. Funds for the scholarship fund were raised at SILVAR’s 2015 “REALTORS® Honor Veterans” event from donations made by members and friends of SILVAR, including a generous grant from the Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® President Karen Trolan thanked members for their generosity. She said money veterans receive from the GI Bill is not enough to afford a college education. She noted she was impressed with the help West Valley College extends to veterans.
Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation President Eileen Giorgi also thanked members for their support of last year’s event and their contributions to the Charitable Foundation. “The SILVAR Veterans Scholarship Fund is our way of supporting our veterans, to thank them for their brave and invaluable service to our country, and to help them be successful,” said Giorgi.
Davis expressed his gratitude on behalf of West Valley College. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your donation will help our veterans tremendously,” said David. He said the grant will go a long way to assisting veterans with tuition, books and supplies for their studies.
Left to right are Lehua Greenman (Membership Committee Chair), SILVAR President Chris Isaacson, Joe Brown, San Mateo County Supervisor Warren Slocum, Larry Tringali, Steve Trolan, Supervisor Joe Simitian (who served as auctioneer), Tom Gordon, Bill Weseloh, Mike Frangadakis, Kelly Hutter, Derrick Felton, Bill Moody and Frank Limon.
SILVAR members honored the country’s veterans this week, including their own, at the Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club. More than 150 members and guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres, beverages and live music, while bidding on fabulous items at the live and silent auctions on Wednesday night. Thanks to the generous donations from sponsors and members who bid generously, the event grossed over $45,000 for the SILVAR Veterans Scholarship Fund.
The SILVAR Veterans Scholarship Fund is a new component of the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation’s focus on education. The scholarship fund will support eligible U.S. veterans and eligible dependents of deceased veterans residing in SILVAR’s traditional service area who wish to further their education.
Leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance was Bill Weseloh, a longtime SILVAR member and U.S. veteran. Tina Kyriakis, also a SILVAR member, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Serving as masters of ceremonies were Santa Clara County District 5 Supervisor Joe Simitian, who also was the evening’s auctioneer, and Lehua Greenman, Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation trustee and chair of SILVAR’s Membership Committee.
SILVAR President Chris Isaacson and Greenman welcomed guests to the special event. They recognized special guests present, including San Mateo County District 4 Supervisor Warren Slocum, who is also a U.S. veteran, having served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam 1966-67. They noted the country’s veterans have made many sacrifices “so we can live free and with liberty.”
A highlight of the event were the presentations of the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition “for outstanding and invaluable service to the community” from U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo and a Certificate of Commendation from the County of Santa Clara presented by County Supervisor Joe Simitian to the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® and all REALTOR® Veterans.
The presentations were followed by a recognition of all U.S. veterans present at the event, including those who had registered, but were unable to be present that evening. Recognized at the podium were Supervisor Slocum, Bill Weseloh (U.S. Army), Frank Limon (U.S. Army 1965-68, Vietnam 1965-67), Mike Frangadakis (Vietnam 1967-70, currently with the California State Military Reserve); Derrick Felton, (U.S. Army 1988-1992, Persian Gulf), Tom Gordon (U.S. Air Force 1984-1988, Edwards Air Force Base, CA.); Steve Trolan (U.S. Army 1981-85, Fort Shafter, HI 1987-1994, U.S. Army Reserve, 12th Special Forces); Larry Tringali (U.S. Navy Corpsman 1967-69), Kelly Hutter (U.S. Air Force 1985-1993), Bill Moody (U.S. Army, Vietnam 1966-68); John Tripp (Pacific Theater, 1947-1956); and Joe Brown (U.S. Air Force 1969-73, Vietnam 1970-71).
On Wednesday, September 23, members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) will hold “REALTORS® Honor Veterans,” from 4-8:00 p.m. at the Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club, 3000 Alexis Dr, Palo Alto. This event will be an evening of connecting with colleagues, enjoying tasty food, beverages and live music, while bidding on fabulous items at our live and silent auctions. All proceeds from this event will go to the SILVAR Veterans Scholarship Fund
Planning for this event began already in the spring with SILVAR’s Membership Committee, its five Districts and professional Affiliates, the Silicon Valley YPN Chapter and the Charitable Foundation Trust joining together to make this fundraising event a success and an incredibly exciting experience for everyone.
The SILVAR Veterans Scholarship Fund is a new component of the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation’s focus on education. The scholarship fund will support eligible U.S. veterans and eligible dependents of deceased veterans residing in SILVAR’s traditional service area who wish to further their education. SILVAR’s Charitable Foundation will join in partnership with area schools, like Foothill College, West Valley College, De Anza College, Cañada College and Menlo College.
The scholarship program is SILVAR’s way of supporting our veterans, to thank them for their brave and invaluable service to our country, and to help them be successful. With SILVAR membership support, we will be able to assist our veterans in achieving their education goals.
The Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation focuses on helping others through grants for housing, education and youth. SILVAR members want to make a big difference in people’s lives throughout our SILVAR communities.
For more information about this event and donations for the live and silent auctions and prizes, please contact Lehua Greenman, SILVAR 2015 Membership Chair and Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation Trustee at lgreenman@cbnorcal.com.
The 16th annual Silicon Valley REALTORS® Scholars Program for graduating seniors from 18 public high schools in Silicon Valley is underway. The scholars program is sponsored by the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), a professional trade organization representing over 4,500 REALTORS® and affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
The REALTORS®’ scholarship program is a partnership with local high schools in Silicon Valley. Principals and faculty at 18 participating 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.
The scholars from the Class of 2015 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 SILVAR.
“The annual Silicon Valley Scholars Program is an opportunity for our members to show our support for our communities and thank the students, teachers, administrators and school board members for their hard work and dedication in making the schools in our communities among the best in California and the nation,” said Nina Yamaguchi, chair of the Scholars Program of the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. “We strongly believe in investing in the future of our youth.”
The participating schools include 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.
Graduating seniors from the above-mentioned high schools who wish to apply for the scholarships may obtain an application from their respective schools. The completed application must be returned to their high school principal or scholarship counselor by Monday, March 9, for submission to the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation.
For further information, please contact Nina Yamaguchi at (408) 861-8822 or nyamaguchi@cbnorcal.com.
The Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®, presented scholarship awards to 18 graduating seniors from public high schools in Silicon Valley at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Scholarship recipients each receive $1,000 and are selected from the high schools in communities served by SILVAR members.
Now on its 15th year, the REALTOR® scholarship program recognizes students who have exemplified outstanding achievements in academics, extracurricular/employment activities and community involvement. The selection committee includes representatives from the local business community, area high schools, area colleges and SILVAR.
Students receiving the Charitable Foundation scholarships, the schools from which they graduated, and the colleges and universities they will be attending this fall are: John Kevin Ong Dayao, Cupertino High School, (UC Davis); Mason Peter McCloskey, Fremont High School, (Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo); Wonji Park, Gunn High School (Cal Poly-Pomona); Min Kyu Park, Homestead High School (UCLA); Claire Henderson, Leigh High School (UCLA); Elizabeth Ashley Bishop, Los Altos High School (Tufts University); Alexandra Wong, Los Gatos High School (Brown University); Barbara Julia Jackson, Lynbrook High School (University of Pittsburgh); Sarah Hagadone, Menlo-Atherton High School (UC Berkeley); Marisa Yang, Monta Vista High School (UC Berkeley); Kiley Anne Rucker, Mountain View High School (Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo); Lena Cuevas, Palo Alto High School (Colorado State University); Nicholas Kikuchi, Prospect High School (Santa Clara University); Julie Chen, Santa Clara High School (UC Berkeley); Manini Desai, Saratoga High School (Barnard College); Hanna Zemene Abuhay, Westmont High School (UC Santa Cruz); Jesus Covarrubias Robles, Wilcox High School (Princeton University); Florence Ortiz, Woodside High School (UC Santa Cruz).
“We are happy we have been able to assist our youth for the past 15 years. The seniors selected this year are very deserving of recognition,” said Scholarship Program Chair Nina Yamaguchi.
SILVAR members who presented the scholarships to the recipients at their respective senior awards ceremonies included Chris Alston (Keller Williams), Carolyn Miller (Re/Max Real Estate Services), Michael Hall (Alain Pinel Realtors), Nina Daruwalla (Coldwell Banker), Mary Pope-Handy (Sereno Group), Susan Sweeley (Alain Pinel Realtors), Suzanne Yost (Alain Pinel Realtors), Mark Burns (Referral Realty), Mary Tan (Coldwell Banker), Jimmy Kang (Wells Fargo Home Mortgage), Robert Reid (Keller Williams Realty), Sue Bose (Referral Realty), David Tonna (Alain Pinel Realtors), Niki Maroko (Re/Max Real Estate Service) and Nancy Domich (Old Republic Title Company).
“Our scholarship program is one way REALTORS® are able to give back to our communities and to our youth, who are the future of our communities,” added John Tripp, 2014 president of the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation.
The scholarship awards presented by the Charitable Foundation are made possible by donations from SILVAR REALTOR® and affiliate members. Since its creation, the scholarship program has provided $270,000 in scholarships to high school seniors in Silicon Valley. The Charitable Foundation would like to thank SILVAR members for their generous support!
The 15th annual Silicon Valley REALTORS® Scholars Program for graduating seniors from 18 public high schools in Silicon Valley is underway. The scholars program is sponsored by the Charitable Foundation of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR), a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.
The REALTORS®’ scholarship program is a partnership with local high schools in Silicon Valley. Principals and faculty at 18 participating 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.
The scholars from the Class of 2014 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 SILVAR.
“The annual Silicon Valley Scholars Program is an opportunity for our members to show our support for our communities and schools. We see value in investing in the future of our youth,” said Nina Yamaguchi, chair of the Scholars Program of the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. “We want to 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 the nation.”
The participating schools include 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.
Graduating seniors from the above-mentioned high schools who wish to apply for the scholarships may obtain an application from their respective schools. The completed application must be returned to the high school’s principal or scholarship counselor by Monday, March 10, for submission to the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation.
For further information, please contact Nina Yamaguchi at (408) 861-8822 or nyamagu-chi@cbnorcal.com.
Event raised over $15,000 for Charity
Team 650, 2013 Day On the Diamond Champions
Over 150 SILVAR members and guests watched Team 650 breeze through the field with hits and runs and ultimately retain their winner’s title at Wednesday’s “Day on the Diamond,” SILVAR’s co-ed REALTOR® softball game.
The winners, REALTORS® from area code 650 – members from the Menlo Park/Atherton, Palo Alto and Los Altos/Mountain View districts, were jubilant. It was a great day for a ball game and everyone – spectators, cheerleaders and players had fun. More important, the event raised over $15,000 for the Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation.
Team 650 and Team 408, SILVAR REALTOR® members from the Cupertino/Sunnyvale and Los Gatos/Saratoga districts, have been engaged in friendly softball competition. Team 408 took the title in 2011 in Portola Valley, and last year Team 650 became the winner at the game held in Los Gatos. This year, REALTORS® from SILVAR’s districts to the north were bent on keeping the title and held regular practices weeks before game day. Their practices paid off. Team 650 led throughout the game, amid cheers from their districts’ affiliates.
There were good moments for Team 408, thanks to the quick reflexes and running by outfielder Marc Gallardo, who caught the ball and struck out a few Team 650 players. But it wasn’t enough. Despite Team 408’s efforts, the 650 members succeeded in keeping their trophy, with a score of 23-2.
Nearly 100 members and guests participated in Monday’s 14th Annual Silicon Valley REALTORS® Charitable Foundation Golf Tournament. The annual charity event held at the Los Altos Golf and Country Club, included the golf tournament, a cocktail reception and awards ceremony. The event is one of two fundraisers this year for the Foundation.
Special guests included California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) President Don Faught and C.A.R. President-elect Kevin Brown, who golfed in the tournament. A highlight of the event was a hole-in-one on Hole #6 by Alain Pinel REALTORS® Vice President and Regional Manager Jeff Barnett.
This year’s golf tournament top winner is Sereno Group’s team, with Justin DeSantis, Ed Graziani, Timothy Proschold, and Chris Ray. The Sereno Group team won first place for the third year in a row.
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says ... 