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Palm Shores, Florida December 20, 2022 – The Space Coast Association of REALTORS® held its 11th Annual Gala at the Cocoa Beach Hilton Oceanfront on Friday, September 16th benefiting Brevard’s Children and Families in Need. With an online auction, sponsorships, 50/50 raffles, and multiple donations, the organization managed to raise over $100,000 for the Space Coast Association of REALTORS® Foundation in a short four-hour event.
Despite all efforts to bring the number of homeless families in Brevard County down, the figure is only going up. Today, there are 1,300 homeless families in Brevard, up from 750 in 2021. Since its founding, the Space Coast Association of Realtors® Foundation has sought to help these families through fundraising and distribution efforts. This year the Foundation distributed $124,000 to local nonprofits. These donations have helped feed hungry school-children and help families on the brink of homelessness to stabilize their situations.
"Once again the Brevard Children and Families In Need committee of the Space Coast Association of REALTORS® together with the Hilton Hotel and the Cocoa Beach Area Hotel & Lodging Association, the many other partners who made this night possible, and the community at large stood up to make a difference in the lives of so many at risk children in Brevard County," said Jim Britton, Space Coast Association of REALTORS® 2022 President. "We are thankful for all of the support that we have received from the community for this amazing event."
According to Family Promise of Brevard, 40% of America's current homeless population is families. Sadly, these struggling families often have young children. In fact, 40% of the nation's homeless children are under the age of five.
“It truly takes a team to put this together and make this event more and more successful each year. Between our BCIN Committee, the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, Cocoa Beach Hotel & Lodging Association, and all of our generous sponsors and donors, this year truly broke records. Brevard County will be greatly impacted in such a positive way through these funds raised!” Said Mike Artelli, Chairman for the BCIN Committee.
Every day, Space Coast families are faced with crises and challenges. REALTORS® never forget that they are neighbors first and we refuse to turn a blind eye to families who are in need.
The Brevard's Children and Families in Need Committee is the fundraising arm of the Space Coast Association of REALTORS®. The committee has raised over $1 million dollars since its founding. Funds raised by the committee are donated by the Space Coast Association of Realtors® Foundation to local organizations that help combat homelessness in Brevard County. Every dollar donated stays right here locally in Brevard County. To date, we have been able to distribute over $1 million dollars to local nonprofits to help assist in the homeless crisis in Brevard County.
"What I love so much about Brevard's Children in Need Committee is our REALTOR® Association is so passionate about the cause, and the community awareness that’s been created is awesome!" shared Candace Mulvaney, President of the Foundation. "The money has been used to meet specific needs by providing temporary housing, food, backpacks, school supplies, clothing, shoes or even glasses, to mention a few. As long as we continue to have that support behind us, we'll keep doing what we do to make a difference in these children and families' lives!"
Save the date, our 12th Annual Gala will be September 22, 2023 at the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront and we are looking forward to seeing our remarkable community there!
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