Creating Relationships One Home At A Time

In honor of Coldwell Banker turning 100 Years in 2006, I, Stefanie celebrated by donating money to local non-for-profit organizations!!!  For every home over $100,000, I donated $100 to an organization.  I have always had a soft spot in my heart for helping others.  Now I have the opportunity to make a difference by giving back. 

Many of us are blessed with wonderful lives and careers.  Others are not so fortunate.  We as a community need to pull together and assist those that are unfortunate in obstacles that come into their lives, especially the unexpected.  I know that when I hit my low spots throughout life, I always appreciated when someone was there to help.  There are many organizations that are here that we shouldn't need to have the need for.  

The children and adults can only benefit from our guidance and assistance.  The majority of the problems we have today with adults and crime are results of the way these children  are raised, actually not being raised, and the abuse they live through to reach adulthood.  They learn to adapt the best way they can.  Some of them turn out good, while others end up messing their lives up with crime, repeating what happened to them, and mostly ending up in jail.  It is not always a situation the parents choose but are put in that place these children in the positions they end up in. 

Children are not the only ones needing help.  These children grow up to be adults and then we have to deal with those underlying issues at that stage.  A lot of the mistakes they make and situations they allow themselves to get into result from their childhood abuse and/or neglect.  It does not make them all bad, but in the need of support, encouragement and learning the right way to live life.  I would love nothing more than to put these organizations out of business by not having a need for them.  Unfortunately we end up finding more needs for more organizations as we uncover the abuse and lives these people have suffered.  Some of these people will end up homeless, not motivated (because they never new that someone could love and support them), with unexpected children, living a life of crime, or spending their lives behind bars for choices they make. 

I am also a huge animal person.  I was able to assist the Champaign County Humane Society raise over $50,000 in 2008 as chairperson for their dinner/auction.   They rely solely on donations to care for the animals relinquished or just left behind.  As time goes on, the budget gets bigger and the continue to need our support.  It is an ongoing need to keep caring for these four legged children.  Please keep them in mind when you choose to donate either by your time or monetary.  All donations are welcome and overwhelmingly appreciated.