Realtors are notorious for being the people we trust when we’re making one of the biggest financial transactions of our lives—buying or selling a home—but few people know just how much these professionals also invest in our communities. 

“We live and work in these communities ourselves, so we have a direct interest in making them great places to live,” says Debbie Newton, president of the Placer County Association of REALTORS® (PCAR). “That includes supporting the charities and nonprofits that are serving all of us.”

Since its founding in 1935, PCAR has been raising money to support local nonprofits, but in 2011 that community commitment was formalized with the creation of the PCAR Foundation, whose mission is to provide support to local charities that offer food, clothing, shelter and mental health services. 

Since 2011 alone, they’ve donated more than $204,000 to organizations like the Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Placer Food Bank, and Lighthouse Counseling and Family Resource Center, among others. This support is provided in the form of grants awarded through an application process in amounts ranging from $500-$5,000 (to apply, visit pcaor.com/about/pcar-foundation).

“Any organization that does work consistent with the foundation’s mission is welcome to apply,” Newton says. “While we can’t award grants to every applicant, we’re always looking to support groups that are helping to build a stronger community.”

Funding for these grants comes from several events held throughout the year, organized by various PCAR committees. The next event, Aloha Night, is organized by PCAR’s Young Professionals Network and scheduled for August 3 at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. It will be open to the public and feature food, live music and door prizes. 

In addition to grants, the foundation has also awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to local students since its inception. Despite scholarships being a longtime goal of the group, as a trade association, they were restricted in how that could be done; overcoming those restrictions was one of the key reasons the foundation was formed.

Any student residing in Placer County is eligible to apply for the grants, which are provided in $1,000 amounts. The process involves writing an essay describing “who they are,” their plans for higher education, and how the scholarship can help them achieve their goals. “We really want to get an understanding of their unique circumstances and their needs, as well as get a sense of their ambitions,” Newton says. “We’re often very moved by the applications we receive, [which] explains why we often give out more scholarships than planned.  This year we planned on awarding two, and instead awarded nine.” 

Of course, “anyone” can also contribute money to community needs, so it’s worth emphasizing that, in addition to this financial support, the members of PCAR also donate their time and expertise as volunteers for many of these same nonprofit groups.  pcaor.com

by Bill Romanelli // Photo by Dante Fontana © Style Media Group