Edina Realty Foundation Awards Grants

(The following news release came from the Edina Realty Foundation.)

The Edina Realty Foundation, which supports homeless related causes throughout Minnesota, western Wisconsin and Fargo, N.D., has awarded the following grants:

• Westonka Food Shelf/Our Lady of the Lake - $500
• Minnesota Teen Challenge - $1,000
• Miracles of Mitch Foundation - $1,000
• Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners - $1,000

A large portion of grant money came directly from the REALTORS® of Edina Realty’s Wayzata sales office as well as from Edina Realty itself.  In addition, Edina Realty agents and employees hold events throughout the year that help raise additional contributions.  A non-profit organization, the Edina Realty Foundation was created in 1996 to support organizations that help homeless children and families in the markets in which Edina Realty does business.

“Our primary business is helping people buy and sell their homes. But there are many people in our community that are not as fortunate,” said David Schmid, Edina Realty Wayzata sales office foundation representative.  “We believe it’s our responsibility to help people for whom housing is a major issue in their lives, and we are proud to donate both our time and our money to these worthy organizations.”

The Edina Realty Foundation, founded in 1996, provides financial support to organizations that provide housing and related services, such as counseling and medical care, to homeless children, families and individuals.  To date the Foundation has raised more than $5.7 million.  For more information about the Edina Realty Foundation, visit www.edinarealty.com.           

Every night in Minnesota, about 7,000 individuals receive shelter from homeless service providers, according to surveys conducted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Due to inadequate resources, another 1,000 individuals are turned away from shelters every night. Wilder Research Center’s “Homeless in

Minnesota 2003” estimated that during that year, the number of homeless and precariously housed persons in Minnesota exceeded 20,000, including over 10,000 children. Over 40 percent of homeless adults are employed.