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July 2010
Index of all
messages
from the Association President
Supporting CARHOF benefits your business
By David Barber, AAR President
This year is the 20th anniversary of CARHOF (Colorado Association of REALTORS® Housing Opportunity Foundation). That’s 20 years of helping families secure down payment assistance, avoid foreclosure, escape domestic violence and acquire affordable housing.
While most of us think of the Foundation as the recipient of the interest on earnest money, what few of us realize is that we must make a notation in our contracts and listing agreements to assure that the interest is forwarded to CARHOF.
CARHOF is a 501(c)3 charitable foundation, which means that contributions are tax deductible. Started in 1990, CARHOF is one of the most successful REALTOR® charities in the country. If you have done a deal with Aurora HOAP (Home Ownership Assistance Program) down payment assistance, you have experienced some of the benefits CARHOF can have to your business.
Give $20 for 20
This year, in honor of the 20th anniversary, CARHOF is implementing a $20 for 20 promotion. The program asks REALTORS® to donate $1 for each year of CARHOF’s existence – $20 for 20 years. In addition, REALTOR® boards and associations with the highest percentage of participation could be awarded an additional $2,500 contribution for their grants this year.
Each year, AAR’s annual Golf Tournament (this year, set for July 19 at Blackstone Country Club) is the main fundraising the Association does for CARHOF, but this year CARHOF chairwoman Nancy Griffin and I are asking you to reach a little deeper and donate an extra $20 to CARHOF to help our Association reach the prestigious goal of being one of the top contributing boards in the state. Could your business benefit from an additional $2,500 in the down payment assistance pool?
The latest figures we have show AAR members making contributions nearing $5,500. It’s an admirable sum, but we need to do better to become one of the top contributing boards in the state, thus showing extraordinary support for affordable housing efforts statewide.
As of February, here’s how we compare to other associations and boards in the metro district:
Aurora $5,446.92
Denver $14,403.99
Denver Metro Commercial $4,043.23
Douglas/Elbert $1,418.46
Jefferson County $ 11,787.30
Mountain Metro $8,715.08
North Metro $1,447.62
South Metro $82,331.65
Total $130,094.25
As you can see, we have a way to go, but I know our members can rally to a worthy cause, do significant good for our community, and enhance their business at the same time. That’s a lot of bang for a $20 bill!
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