"SAMCAR Gives Back" Raises $41,000 for Charity in 2021
In 2021, with fundraising efforts continuing to be impacted by the ongoing pandemic, the SAMCAR Foundation Council and Special Events Committee set out to support charitable grant giving with an online fundraising campaign—"SAMCAR Gives Back". We are pleased to report that this campaign has raised $41,000, surpassing the original fundraising goal and supporting grants to numerous charities in San Mateo County so far this year.
Generous donations from SAMCAR members and friends continue to be the primary source of funds for charitable giving. To start, 576 Realtor members selected to make the $30 voluntary contribution with their 2021 membership dues at the beginning of this year, totaling $17,280, nearly halfway toward the initial fundraising goal of $35,000. Following, the Special Events Committee undertook SAMCAR's first-ever virtual variety show, Thursday Night Live, in May which generated an additional $6,980 in charitable donations. Part of that total includes 10% of 2021 SAMCAR Sponsor contributions, with each of this year's sponsors directly supporting the Foundation through their annual sponsorship contribution. A further $1,715 was raised selling raffle tickets and entries into cornhole competition at the Member Appreciation Picnic in August—SAMCAR's first in-person (and outdoor) event since March 2020. And, the SAMCAR Board of Directors approved two donations to the SAMCAR Foundation, one for $5,000 in the Association's annual budget was made in May, and another for $10,000 made in August.
Support for fundraising efforts allowed Foundation Trustees to award grants to HEART of San Mateo County, Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Mateo County, Samaritan House, and Downtown Streets Team in Q2 and to Home & Hope, LifeMoves, Rebuilding Together Peninsula, Service League of San Mateo County, and CORA in Q3 with funds still available for Q4 grants.
With a vision of providing a roof over every head in San Mateo County, the SAMCAR Foundation trustees, staff and committee members, as well as the charities supported by quarterly grants, are deeply grateful for the generous support of the SAMCAR community. Thank you!
