SEATTLE, Wash. - In 1998 the nonprofit Windermere Foundation raised $677,000 for projects assisting homeless children and families in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. That total is a 20 percent increase over funds raised by the Foundation in 1997.

"We're excited to see such a large increase in donations this year," said Geoff Wood, president of Windermere Services Company and co-owner of Windermere Real Estate Company. "It definitely reflects the current real estate market as well as the fact that our agents and offices are going above and beyond their normal fund raising efforts. We're thrilled that as more people in the Northwest have been able to buy and sell homes, more of those without homes have been helped as well."

Windermere Real Estate established the Windermere Foundation in 1989 to help fight the growing problem of homelessness in the Northwest. Since then the Windermere Foundation has raised more than $3.25 million for Northwest homeless families.

The Foundation is unique in the way it is funded. Every time a Windermere associate sells a home, a portion of the commission is donated directly to the Windermere Foundation. Additional contributions from agents, staff and the general public are also accepted. An entirely volunteer-run organization, less than two percent of funds raised are spent on administrative costs.

Windermere is the Northwest's leading real estate company with 179 offices and more than 4,700 agents serving Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Published: December 17, 1998

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