Press - page 2

In September 2020, the SAMCAR Foundation donated funds in the amount of $7,349 to the San Bruno Community Foundation for the Crestmoor Neighborhood Memorial Scholarship. The story of why that exact dollar amount was donated, how it was raised and how it made its way to the recipient organization has been a decade in the making.

You did it! Thanks to the generous support of SAMCAR members, sponsors and community, our #SAMCARGivesBack fundraising campaign has exceeded its fundraising goal and has been able to fund quarterly grants to housing-related charities as well as a special fire relief effort and much more. Read more for an overview of what the SAMCAR Foundation has been able to accomplish with your support.

In response to August wildfire evacuations in San Mateo County's coastal communities, the Tuesday marketing meeting group of Half Moon Bay REALTORS® quickly mobilized to raise funds for Puente de la Costa Sur to provide relief—raising $13,000 in just over a week and half. Read more for a special thanks to donors and to learn more about this rapid, member-led effort.

In 2019, the SAMCAR Foundation awarded over $62,000 to numerous housing-related charities in San Mateo County and grants to first time buyers working with the HEART program. The primary funding sources for SAMCAR Foundation grants are voluntary contributions made by SAMCAR members with dues payments and fundraising from annual events.

As part of SAMCAR's ongoing commitment to supporting our communities, SAMCAR REALTORS® have recently made contributions to the following organizations in Pacifica: Pacifica Resource Center, Pacificans Care for the Rockaway Ricky Memorial Fund, Terra Nova High School Education Foundation, Terra Nova Industrial Tech. SAMCAR values our communities and is proud to support the efforts of our members in cities and neighborhoods throughout San Mateo County.

In response to higher housing costs, HEART, the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo County, and Meriwest Mortgage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Meriwest Credit Union, will now allow new homebuyers in San Mateo County to purchase homes for up to $908,156. This represents a 14% increase from the previous maximum home price of $795,187. To accompany the increase in the maximum home price, the HEART loan program will offer up to $136,223 as a down payment second loan.

In 2018, the SAMCAR Foundation awarded $49,574 to numerous housing-related charities in San Mateo County. The primary funding sources for SAMCAR Foundation grants are voluntary contributions made by SAMCAR members with their dues payments and fundraising from annual events. In addition to funding from member contributions and events, the SAMCAR Foundation was awarded a $50,000 grant from the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) in 2018.

The SAMCAR Foundation is truly honored to be recognized by Second Harvest Food Bank for the "Make Hunger History" Gold award. SAMCAR members raised over $3,600 at the Harvest Auction, which was matched by an anonymous donor, helping Second Harvest provide over 14,000 meals! Thank you all for your generous support of amazing organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank through participating in SAMCAR Foundation charitable activities!

HEART of San Mateo County and the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®—through a $50,000 grant from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Housing Affordability Fund—are expanding HEART's First Time Homebuyer Program to include closing costs assistance, offering up to $5,000 in closing costs assistance for first time homebuyers in San Mateo County.

In 2017, the SAMCAR Foundation awarded $37,000 to numerous housing-related charities in San Mateo County. The primary funding sources for SAMCAR Foundation grants are voluntary contributions made by SAMCAR members with dues payments and fundraising from annual events.

The SAMCAR Foundation's June 2016 grant of $10,000 to HEART of San Mateo County is helping provide assistance to first-time homebuyers in our community.

Thank you to our members who contributed to the C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) this year. Take a look at how important your contributions are at http://bcove.me/5c66urxn. Even if you have not contributed this year, you can still do so at any time at CARHAF.ORG

Do you know about the great work that SAMCAR Foundation grant recipients do in San Mateo County? Mission Hospice & Home Care is using Foundation grant funds to purchase an exceptional 12-bed residential care home in the heart of San Mateo.

REALTOR® members and organizations like SAMCAR work hard to help home buyers and sellers, and protect property owners by providing valuable resources, legislative advocacy, giving back to our communities and holding our members to the highest ethical standards. Learn more about how REALTORS® are working for YOU!

On September 2 at the Combined Tour Meeting SAMCAR members heard from Assemblyman Rich Gordon on the 2013-2014 legislative session, and from grant recipient organizations supported by the SAMCAR Foundation's quarterly grant program.

Meet Julie S., an art teacher in San Mateo who was able to buy her first home with the help of HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust) and Meriwest Mortgage's first time homebuyer program.