Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It’s giving season, and we’re celebrating the holidays by thanking you for the work you do throughout the year to enrich lives in our community. Many CCAR members volunteer for service in the Helping Hands Committee,* the Affiliates & Events* and YPN Committees* and the CCAR Scholarship Foundation,* and we are grateful for the hours you spend throughout the year to raise dollars and awareness about these important charitable organizations. And none of it would be possible without ALL our members who donate so generously.
Thank you!
Zina
Young Pros. Big Purpose: YPN Fills Classrooms with Hope and Supplies
Even in communities that seem affluent, not every family can afford a backpack, notebooks, or basic school supplies when a new school year begins. That’s where CCAR’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) continues to make a difference.
Last August the CCAR YPN team organized their 5th annual School Supply Drive that collected hundreds of essential learning tools for local children. The outpouring of generosity from members helped ensure that kids from every background could start the year with confidence and dignity. Each of these items represents more than just school supplies, it represents opportunity, self-esteem, and a community that refuses to overlook need.
YPN’s initiative reminds us that success isn’t just measured by sales—it’s also measured by service. Through volunteerism and giving, CCAR members show that the real estate community’s impact extends far beyond property lines.
Helping Hands Fund Turns Good Times into Good Deeds – $5,000 Donation to Feed 15,000 Locals
Next time you get an invitation to a CCAR event, don’t dismiss it as “just another party” or an excuse to grab a few drinks with colleagues.
Every ticket purchased, every raffle entered, and every conversation shared helps create real change in our community. CCAR events do more than connect members—they fuel our Helping Hands Fund, which supports local nonprofits feeding, sheltering, and uplifting thousands of our neighbors in need.
This year, because of your participation and generosity, the Helping Hands Fund has donated approximately $40,000 to individuals and local charities in our community. Most recently, the group committed $5,000 to fund more than15,000 meals for families across Contra Costa, Alameda, and Solano Counties.
You Can Help. Donate today by clicking links below:
Contra Costa/Solano County Food Banks serve families across both counties. Currently, they distribute enough emergency/supplemental food to provide 2.7M meals each month. | DONATE >
White Pony Express is a Contra Costa-based nonprofit with a mission “to eliminate hunger and poverty with love.” Their Food Rescue Program recovers fresh, high quality food every week. They report an average of 12,000 pounds of food recovered. | DONATE >
Monument Crisis Center provides nutritious food, education, assistance and referrals to individuals, families, children and seniors in need. They provide over one million meals annually via more than 30,000 food boxes. | DONATE >
Bay Area Rescue Mission serves homeless and hurting men, women and children, operating 24/7. They provide daily averages of 4,931 meals, hundreds of shelter stays and life transformation programs. | DONATE >
Affiliates & Events Committee the Fundraising Engine Behind CCAR Giving
The CCAR Affiliates & Events Committee plays a pivotal role in fueling CCAR’s philanthropic efforts. Through its annual fundraising events—the Bingo Tournament, Affiliates Fair, and more, the committee brings REALTORS® and Affiliate members together in support of the community. These events are more than networking or social gatherings: they raise significant funds that are split evenly between two major charitable programs—the Helping Hands Fund and the CCAR Scholarship Foundation.
CCAR Affiliates are key partners in this work, offering their time, expertise, and financial support. Their involvement is essential to the success of every fundraising effort.
50 Years of Scholarships Powered by CCAR Members
For more than half a century, the CCAR Scholarship Foundation has offered educational support to students throughout Contra Costa County. What began in 1967 as a small, member-driven initiative has grown into a long-standing program that continues to benefit new generations—thanks largely to the ongoing dedication of its CCAR member trustees. The program is open to high school seniors, college undergrads, graduate students, and trade school students.
Over the past 12 years alone, the Foundation has awarded $740,000 to 265 local students, and many past recipients have credited these funds with helping them complete degrees, reduce financial strain, and access opportunities they may not have otherwise afforded. The 2025 Awards recognized 20 new scholars—students now attending institutions across the country.
While the scale of the awards has grown, the core of the Foundation
remains unchanged: CCAR members volunteering their time and expertise to support local students’ futures.
Scholarship funding is sustained by member donations, public support, and half of the proceeds from CCAR fundraising events.
* Many Thanks to 2025 Committee Volunteers and Scholarship Trustees *
Helping Hands Committee
Jennifer Newton, Chair
Victoria Haket, Vice Chair
Marilyn Cunningham
Jamie Gaines
Diane Gilfether
Sue Kuehn
Lisa Lilley
Affiliates & Events Committee
Jessica Evans, Chair
Cameron Chatterron, Vice Chair
Abdullah Al-Hadeethi
Anna Febiana
Donna Davis
Danny Levitt
Cherry Wade
Andrew Waite
Rich Mendoza
YPN Committee
Gilda Whitehead, Chair
Cherry Wade, Vice Chair
Ruthie Abelson Olivas
Jordan Burns
Ashley Newton
Gabrielle Rajasekhar
Victor Reyes
Scholarship Foundation Trustees
Angela Muetterties, President
Marianne Bordogna, Vice President
Bill Erb, Treasurer
Michael Moore, Secretary
Ruthie Ableson Olivas
Jonas Champion
Lupe Kemper
Terry Moore
Long Nguyen
CCAR ANNUAL SPONSORS
Platinum Partner, NAR Corporate Ally Program
CCAR is proud to be a RESO Platinum Certified MLS, the highest level of certification available.
