Real Estate Articles

Home : Publications : Real Estate Articles

SAMCAR Charity Spaghetti Feed and Auction raises $30,000 for Samaritan House,

Monday, September 24, 2007

Over 200 members of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®, their friends and family gathered at the Peninsula Italian American Social Club in San Mateo on Thursday, Sept. 20 and were able to raise $30,000 for the homeless. Proceeds from SAMCAR’s Charity Spaghetti Feed and Auction, an annual charity benefit hosted by the Association, will go this year to Samaritan House and HIP (Human Investment Project) Housing.

SAMCAR President Geofrrey Craighead gave the welcome remarks and encouraged members to “bid early, bid often and make sure we raise money.” The Honorable Larry Franzella, Mayor of San Bruno, served as auctioneer.

Representatives from both agencies were present during the evening and spoke about the work of the agencies in helping provide support and shelter for those in need, and they thanked SAMCAR Realtors and affiliates for their continued support.
Samaritan House is a non-profit health and human services agency which provides a broad range of services and resources to low-income residents in San Mateo County. Services include case management, clothing, medical care, food, shelter, employment assistance, and food and toys for the holidays. All services are provided free of charge to low-income families.

Samaritan House Board Treasurer Bob Grassilli thanked SAMCAR members for their donations. He said, “Samaritan House has been around for over 30 years helping people with their housing needs. We help those that are not only poverty-stricken, but those people who are marginalized and maybe need a hand so that they can get back on their feet, improve their lives and contribute back to society. We’re all pulling together. Thank you for participating in this event. We really do appreciate everything you do!”

HIP Housing is a non-profit organization that creates permanent housing solutions for over 1,000 persons in San Mateo County every year and assists an additional 1,500 with housing resources, including the Housing Home Sharing Program, which links people who have housing to share with those seeking a place to live, so each person has a private room and shares common living areas. The agency interviews clients, makes referrals and matches nearly 300 people a year.

“Because it uses existing housing stock, home sharing provides an immediate resource for housing in San Mateo County, enables people to remain independent in their homes, while providing increased security, companionship and extra income to meet rising housing and utility costs,” according to Laura Fanucchi, Director of Programs for HIP Housing.

Both HIP Housing Executive Director Bruce Hamilton and Development Director Lois Marshall-Ward attended the event. Hamilton thanked SAMCAR members for supporting the agency and its clients. “On behalf of our clients, I want to thank you for all your support through the years,” said Hamilton. “We support you as you are our advocates when we go to bat for our clients and, we too, are your advocates when you go to bat for private property rights.”

Denise Aquila, chair of the San Mateo County REALTORS® Foundation, likewise thanked SAMCAR members for participating in the event and noted, “Everything we raise goes to people who most need it.”

A big thank you to SAMCAR’s sponsors for another successful event, particularly Event Sponsors IndyMac Bank, The Michael Haigh Team (CitiMortgage) and Mary Jo Lafaye, Reverse Mortgages, Wells Fargo; Platinum Sponsor Countrywide Home Loans for providing the wine; and Gold Sponsors LandAmerica Commonwealth for the festive table decorations and Old Republic Title for sponsoring dessert.

The San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 3,800 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula. SAMCAR 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 San Mateo County.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Julie Ziemelis, Director of Public Affairs, e-mail , or phone (650) 696-8214.

» Back to Real Estate Articles