| Events |
Bowl-o-Rama Raises Over $7,500 for Local Charities
On Thursday, June 13, 2024 the San Mateo County REALTORS® Foundation returned to Bel Mateo Bowl for its popular Bowl-o-Rama fundraiser event bringing together around two hundred SAMCAR members, staff, and friends for an energetic evening of bowling, prizes and fun, raising more than $7,500 to benefit housing-related charities in San Mateo County.
View photos from the Bowl-o-Rama on Flickr
Volunteers from SAMCAR's Special Events Committee welcomed guests to Bel Mateo. Each guest was automatically entered into a door prize drawing for several prize packages and for bowlers winning the Highest Score (Frank Vella), Fastest Ball (Jeffrey Lines) and Best Team (Omarshall, Inc.). Prize packages included items donated by SAMCAR, members and local businesses, listed in the event program.
As one of the signature #SAMCARGivesBack fundraising events, the Bowl-o-Rama directly benefits the SAMCAR Foundation so the group can provide grants to local charities for the remainder of the year.
Each quarter, the Foundation Council reviews grant requests from local charities and proudly supports organizations including HEART of San Mateo County, StarVista, Samaritan House, Caminar, CORA, Rebuilding Together Peninsula, LifeMoves and many others.
Funds for these grants are raised at fundraiser events like the Bowl-o-Rama in addition to direct contributions by SAMCAR members.
The Bowl-o-Rama not only to provides vital funding for Foundation grants, but also creates opportunities for the face-to-face interactions and relationship building that are essential to the real estate business, in an informal and fun setting.
SAMCAR events are possible in large part thanks to generous contributions from annual sponsors—organizations that make annual contributions to SAMCAR to fund association activities and charitable fundraising.
Planning and staffing these events are only possible with the support of SAMCAR staff and the Special Events Committee, a group of SAMCAR members who volunteer their time to plan and staff events, chaired by Andrea Bologna and vice-chair Jim Enes in 2024 with support from volunteers Naz Amir, Toni Burrows, Marlin Handley, Val Hardwick, Betcy Jacob, Haydee Marshall, Veronica Mora, Ann Palermo, Craig Thorson, and Michelle Velez. These committee members are responsible for collecting prize donations, setting up for the event, running the guest check-in table, and making announcements.
The SAMCAR Foundation encourages housing-related nonprofits operating in San Mateo County to apply for grants from www.samcarfoundation.org Grant application deadlines February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15 to be considered during that quarter.
Press Release 
