Sutton Group West Coast Realty in Victoria is supporting the Adopt-a-School program. Each salesperson makes a monthly contribution to the fund, which benefits one local school each year. In 2014, Cloverdale Elementary received $5,000. The eighth recipient in the office’s charitable program is Colwood Elementary. The selection process prioritizes schools in less prosperous neighbourhoods, where families can afford fewer extracurricular activities and children rely on school facilities.
“Colwood Elementary plans to use the funds for extended picnic tables that are wheelchair accessible,” says sales rep Deborah Farley, a founding member of the Adopt-a-School organizing committee. “To date, we have donated $37,000 to seven schools. Our donations have funded playground equipment, permanent picnic tables and sports facilities such as a ball wall. The money is always used to enhance the lives of students. We hope to reach our $50,000 milestone in 2016.”
An organizing committee manages the program, including sending out letters, collecting funds and making presentations. Farley has been involved since the beginning along with Julie Demelo. The newest committee members are Wendy Thompson and Danielle Moreau.
“One night, several years ago, our office raised $7,000 for a family with three children,” says Farley. “The father left just before Christmas. They had no money for rent, food, hydro bills or Christmas gifts for the kids. The mother had nothing. We paid their utility bills and two months rent. We also gave the mother gift certificates to buy groceries and Christmas gifts for the kids. It got us thinking about how many people are in need and how we could make a difference. My daughter suggested we go directly to the schools to see what we could contribute.”
