CCEH and CT REALTORS® Foundation ask CT to hold “bear-raisers” for homeless children

Funds raised will help families remain in the warmth of a homepaddington-plush-photo

October 25, 2016

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH) is proud to announce a new partnership with the Connecticut REALTORS® Foundation to launch “be homeful for the holidays”, a special seasonal promotion designed to raise funds to end family homelessness in Connecticut.  Every dollar raised will go directly towards CCEH’s be homeful project, which provides emergency assistance to families at the front door of shelter to help them remain at home.

CCEH’s be homeful project aims to end homelessness one family at a time. 1,000 families experience homelessness in Connecticut each year, including 2,000 children.  CCEH is also partnered with Paddington Bear to raise awareness about the issue of family homelessness. Paddington himself was homeless at the start of his journey, which is why he is an ideal “spokesbear” for the issue.

This holiday season, the CT REALTORS® Foundation will be donating a beautiful Paddington plush bear to children in shelters as a match for the first 2,000 donations of $25 or more made to the be homeful project.  CCEH and the CT REALTORS® Foundation are asking children/families, organizations and communities to hold “bear-raisers”.  The average cost to prevent a family from becoming homeless through the be homeful project is $1,000, so every 40 bears “raised” will prevent one family from becoming homeless.

“It’s wonderful to think what a difference we can making by joining our efforts,” said Nicholle McKiernan, Chair of the CT REALTORS® Foundation Trustees. “As REALTORS®, selling homes is not just a job, it’s a way of life.  So partnering with the CT Coalition to End Homelessness to ensure every child has a home is near and dear to our hearts and just makes sense.”

“This partnership will have a profound impact,” said Lisa Tepper Bates, Executive Director of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. “We are thrilled to be partnered with the CT REALTORS® Foundation to make sure that every child knows that there are people in his or her community who want to help their family through hardship.”

Further information on holding a “bear-raiser” can be found by visiting CCEH’s be homeful for the holidays website at www.crowdrise.com/behomeful.  Individual donations can be made at www.behomeful.org/give.

For more information, please visit http://www.behomeful.org/.