Windermere Foundation Evergreen Tailgate Party 2021

At Windermere, giving back to our communities is the cornerstone of who we are. Over the past 30 years, our owners, staff and agents have worked together to organize events, raise funds, and spread awareness about worthy causes to strengthen our communities and lend a hand to those in need.

Last week, our team in Evergreen hosted their first annual tailgate party to raise funds for the Rotary Wildfire Ready Campaign, a community-based project whose mission is to build wildfire awareness in mountain communities.

 

John Putt, Cindy Latham, Chuck Ridings

 

Wildfires pose a major threat to mountain communities due to the enormous volume of trees in the surrounding area. Archuleta County, Jefferson County, La Plata County and Montezuma County are just a few areas that face the threat of wildfires each year. Rotary Wildfire Ready helps residents assess their wildfire risk, learn how to harden their homes with fire resistant materials, and create an evacuation plan to keep their families safe.

 

The Rotary Wildfire Ready Truck

 

With the help of our sponsors (pictured below): Kate Higgins with BW Mortgage, Laura Roberts with Chicago Title of Colorado and Otterbox, we were able to raise $2,200 of which 100% of the proceeds were donated to the Rotary Wildfire Ready Campaign.

Yvette Putt, John Putt, Kailee Harvey, Dave Gorsuch

Kate Higgins, JT Putt, Dave Gorsuch, John Putt, Yvette Putt, Laura Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to donate to Rotary Wildfire Ready or to learn more about the organization. 

The post Windermere Foundation Evergreen Tailgate Party 2021 appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.

Windermere Celebrates 37 Years of Community Service Day

Every year in June, Windermere offices close for business in order to participate in Community Service Day. An annual tradition since 1984, our agents, staff, and franchise owners spend the day volunteering in their communities completing a variety of neighborhood improvement projects. Here are a few highlights from this year’s Community Service Day from around our network.

 

Windermere Rowland Realty – California

The Windermere Pinole and Diablo Realty offices joined together and volunteered for the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano Counties, working in their warehouse to bag produce for a food giveaway. After reaching out to their clients and peers, agents were able to gather $2,850 in donations for the food bank, an amount that will allow them to provide 5,700 meals to the local community.

 

A group of people bag produce in a warehouse.

Pictured: Scott Tuffnell, Denise Ramirez, Mike Rowland, Renee Rowland, Diane Cockrell, Mona Logasa, Dave Nardi, Ellen Osmundson, Jim Georgantes, Tina Rowland, Jacob Cardinale, Nicolars Ramirez, Luis Ramirez-Agudelo

 

A group of people hold up a check in a warehouse.

Pictured: Scott Tuffnell, Denise Ramirez, Mike Rowland, Renee Rowland, Diane Cockrell, Mona Logasa, Dave Nardi, Ellen Osmundson, Jim Georgantes, Tina Rowland, Jacob Cardinale, Nicolars Ramirez, Luis Ramirez-Agudelo

 

Windermere Fort Collins & Windsor – Colorado 

For CSD 2021, Windermere Fort Collins partnered with ChildSafe Colorado, an organization that provides therapy for victims of childhood abuse and seeks to “break the cycle and heal the trauma resulting from childhood abuse and neglect with specialized treatment, education, and community outreach.”

Windermere agents and staff completed a variety of indoor and outdoor projects including painting, planting flowers, landscaping, as well as supply collection and organization. In addition to their hands-on work, Fort Collins also set up an online portal for clients, friends, family, and community members to support their work through online donations to ChildSafe.

 

Two women and a boy work in the garden.

Pictured: Heather Patel, her son, and Jill Pino

 

The Windermere office in Windsor, Colorado partnered with the Weld RE-4 School District to host a school supply drive to provide supplies for children in low-income households for the 2021–2022 school year. In addition to the in-person event, they also had over fifteen local businesses volunteer by hosting a drop box in the weeks leading up to the event. Twenty-five boxes were donated by a local moving company, Johnson Moving & Storage. On the day of the supply drive, the boxes were filled with donations.

 

A group of women handle drop box donations.

Pictured: Suzanne Ekeler, Tammy Fisher, Angie Hoskins, Kelsey Vandemark, Angie Clauser, Karla Laferriere, and Anali Roath

 

Windermere Sandy Real Estate – Oregon

The Windermere Sandy Real Estate office organizes blood drives every year, so when it came time for this year’s Community Service Day, they knew exactly where to turn: The American Red Cross. With the help of Windermere agents, Red Cross volunteers set up in Windermere Sandy’s conference room, getting folks registered for the drive and handing out t-shirts. The Windermere Sandy staff greeted donors on the way in and during the afternoon, reception was handled by Windermere owners Alan and Therese Fleischman.

 

A white American Red Cross truck parked in a parking lot.

A white American Red Cross truck parked in a parking lot.

 

Windermere Real Estate Utah 

In communities throughout the state of Utah, Windermere agents were out in force for Community Service Day. The office in Layton, UT weeded and maintained playground areas and outdoor spaces at the Safe Harbor Crisis Center. Agents joined together to lay bark and install solar lights along the walkways on the property. The organization was also presented with a $5,000 check from the office’s Windermere Foundation funds.

Agents from the Park City office worked with local organization EATS Park City to package seeds and provide interview clips of stories relating to food and local culinary traditions. EATS Park City is dedicated to empowering and growing healthy communities with fun, food, and nutrition advocacy. Windermere Utah also made a $5,000 donation to the organization.

 

Windermere Real Estate Ellensburg – Washington

The agents and staff at Windermere Real Estate Ellensburg held a canned food drive, collecting donations at their office and dropping off grocery bags at three-hundred homes in the area for people to add non-perishable food items. They made the round on the final day of the drive, collecting 1,387 pounds of food for the Fish Community Food Bank. After they dropped off the donations, the Ellensburg team went to two different gardens owned by the food bank and spent the day weeding, cleaning up, and planting new foods.

 

A group of people posing for a photo in a garden.

Pictured: Caitlin Wable, Sally Vietzke, Danielle LaHaie, Erich Cross, Jennifer Savage, John Gardner, Cara Marrs, Genevieve Gillman, Casey Mills, Taylor Hull, Misti Sandnes

The post Windermere Celebrates 37 Years of Community Service Day appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.

Guaranteed to Please: Holiday Gift Ideas for the Home

Gift

Every holiday gift list has at least one person who is tough to shop for. Wavering between a risky guess at clothing that might not fit and just throwing in the towel and buying a gift card can be frustrating. But there’s one thing you can be sure of: everyone on your list probably loves to have their home looking stylish. If you’re hoping to score a big win with the pickiest of people of on your list, here are some of our favorite holiday gift ideas for the home.

 

Inviting Lanterns

Lantern

 

Photo Credit: The White Company via Pinterest

Candles are a time-honored “safe” gift that usually deliver a positive response and are useful in any home. Take that one step further by gifting a stylish lantern to hold those candles. This gift is typically small, simple, and cost-effective, meaning that it’s pretty much the perfect gift idea for even the trickiest of people.

 

International Inspiration

Photo Credit: Uncommon Goods

Maps and globes instill a home with a sense of adventure, and never have there been more décor options for those struck with a bit of wanderlust. One option is an interactive scratch-off map that allows tracking of travel. If wall space is limited, consider a cork globe with push pins that can be used to mark travel destinations.

 

Sweet Displays

Decor

Photo Credit: Target via Pinterest

Everyone has a guilty sugary pleasure of some sort, so why not encourage those desserts to be showcased with pride? A dessert display isn’t necessarily something you’d buy for yourself, but it’s a gift that is almost guaranteed to please. Glass is classic, but marble or wood-based displays can blend easily into just about any kitchen design while adding a little extra touch of style.

 

Keep It Simple, Keep It Smart 

Technology

Photo Credit: CNet.com

If all else fails, you can be assured that everyone on your list this holiday season loves music, podcasts, audiobooks, or some other audio form of media. Thanks to the increasing prevalence and affordability of smart speakers, giving a versatile, high-tech gift has never been easier. For under $30 you can now choose between several options, including the Amazon Echo Dot and Google Home Mini.

The post Guaranteed to Please: Holiday Gift Ideas for the Home appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.

November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month

 

In 2007, November was declared National Homeless Youth Awareness Month to shine a light on the homeless experiences of young people and their families. The Windermere Foundation supports the following organizations dedicated to supporting youth in their communities, all of which are providing ways to give back during the COVID-19 pandemic. To support these organizations, donate to the Windermere Foundation through your local Windermere office to ensure community funds help community needs.

 

New Avenues for Youth – Oregon

The Windermere Foundation has supported New Avenues for Youth in their mission to address youth homelessness in Oregon, providing services like education, job training, counseling, and supportive housing.

 

Partners Mentoring Youth – Colorado

Based in Fort Collins, Partners Mentoring Youth has empowered youth and community members to reach their full potential through mentoring, prevention, education, and strategic partnership since 1978. Since that time, the organization has continually expanded their mission and programming to fit the needs of their community and are continuing to do so in the face of COVID-19.

 

The Mockingbird Society – Washington

The Mockingbird Society is dedicated to getting youth into safe, supportive and stable homes by transforming foster care. Magnifying the inequalities faced by young people and families experiencing foster care and homelessness, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the need for the organization’s work. The Mockingbird Society is supporting young people who have lost jobs and/or housing, while providing trauma training and delivering emergency policy guidance to families.

 

Boys and Girls Clubs of America

Supported by the Windermere Foundation across our network, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America enables young people in need to reach their full potential. During the pandemic, the organization has partnered with local clubs to develop a national strategy to serve their local communities.

 

YMCA

Present in neighborhoods throughout our footprint and more than 10,000 communities nationwide, the YMCA is committed to helping communities to learn, grow and thrive, while empowering youth to reach their full potential. The Y has stepped up their emergency food services programs to address increased community need.

 

Beyond the organizations highlighted here, the Windermere Foundation also supports YouthCare (Seattle, WA), Bridge Meadows (Portland, OR), and the North East Youth Center (Spokane, WA), all dedicated to serving youth in their communities. For more information on how you can support homeless youth in your community, talk to your Windermere agent about what organizations are being supported locally.

 

To find out more about the Windermere Foundation or to make a donation, please visit windermerefoundation.com.

The post November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.

Our Commitment to Change: A Message to Our Community

For nearly 50 years Windermere has been deeply rooted in the communities where we do business. However, the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement has made us realize that our roots don’t extend as deep as we thought. It also made us realize that over the decades, the real estate industry has played a significant role in exacerbating systemic racism through redlining and steering, which has prevented many members of historically marginalized communities from building wealth through homeownership.
This summer, we began a robust diversity, equity, and inclusion journey supported by an organization called Moving Beyond that specializes in helping companies integrate and operationalize DEI. Next, we formed two internal workgroups, with a diverse makeup of Windermere franchise owners, managers, agents, and staff to guide and implement DEI efforts across our 10-state organization.
Following three months of collective conversations, we have identified several short- and long-term initiatives on which to focus – all with the aim of building a diverse organization that fosters a sense of belonging and provides equal opportunity across all aspects of homeownership for people of color. Some of these activities can be acted upon right away, as we develop a long-term strategic direction for our DEI efforts.
We’re committed and in it for the long haul, and believe transparency is a critical part of this journey, so here is an update about our goals and progress thus far:
● In August, we conducted an internal survey among our owners, managers, and staff, to create a benchmark of where we are as a company and help guide the direction that we need to take to advance our DEI initiatives. An agent survey is forthcoming in 2021.
● We are producing informational content related to CC&Rs to educate homeowners on how to remove racially restrictive language from their title reports in the 10 states where Windermere operates.
● We are working with an advertising agency that specializes in inclusive and future-forward marketing to evaluate our digital marketing products through a DEI lens.
● We have designated funds for a scholarship program that invests in people of color who want to work in real estate, and are designing training and mentoring programs to aid in their success.
● We are building internal DEI training and development programs, starting with franchise owners, managers, and staff, with plans to expand to agents in 2021.
● We are analyzing our hiring processes to ensure broader representation by people of color.
● We’re generating insights from all these efforts to help us develop a set of thematic pillars to guide our DEI goals and strategy over the long term.
● We’re planning on listening sessions this fall for the Windermere community to continue to have input in this process.
This is just the beginning of what we know will be a long-term journey of awareness and accountability. We are focused and determined to do our part to address discrimination, racism, and inequity within Windermere and the real estate industry. Our efforts stem from the recognition that there is a long history of housing discrimination in the United States and that the inequality in homeownership has deepened the racial divide. Through our work, we hope to play a role in finding ways to correct these inequalities. We realize we were late to this movement and should’ve spoken up sooner, but our eyes are open, and we are committed to leading the way towards positive change from here on out.

The post Our Commitment to Change: A Message to Our Community appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.

Windermere is Now on Spotify!

Spotify

Americans spend about 32 hours a week listening to music, and for Millennials that number is even higher. Since so many activities connected to our homes are enhanced by music, we want to fuel the joy and memories of those experiences through home-inspired playlists on our very own Spotify channel.

Check out Windermere’s new Spotify channel where you can find playlists for every aspect of what it means to be home. Cleaning house? Check. Hosting a dinner party? Check. Chilling on the front porch? We have tunes for that too, and more. We invite you to follow, share, and enjoy!

Start following the Windermere Spotify channel today!

The post Windermere is Now on Spotify! appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.

Electronic Device Drive Has Been Extended!!!

Donation

We still need more devices!!! ChildSafe needs our help! Join us, through the Windermere Foundation, in an to benefit Childsafe.

One of the many challenges of the pandemic is getting support out to children that are currently benefiting from Childsafe services. Many children are home with their abusers during these days of quarantine. We are in need of iPads, tablets or old computers with internet and video capabilities to help these children get the support/services they need.

Please drop off your old devices at either the Windsor or Fort Collins Windermere offices. All equipment will go through a professional cleaning and memory clear. Thank you in advance for your help in this project. Donations are NOW being accepted until 10/01/2020. #AllInForCommunity #WindermereFoundation

**Don’t have a device to donate? ChildSafe also accepts financial donations. Just click on the link below!! **

https://www.childsafecolorado.org/donate/

The post Electronic Device Drive Has Been Extended!!! appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.

Electronic Device Drive Has Been Extended!!!

Donation

We still need more devices!!! ChildSafe needs our help! Join us, through the Windermere Foundation, in an to benefit Childsafe.

One of the many challenges of the pandemic is getting support out to children that are currently benefiting from Childsafe services. Many children are home with their abusers during these days of quarantine. We are in need of iPads, tablets or old computers with internet and video capabilities to help these children get the support/services they need.

Please drop off your old devices at either the Windsor or Fort Collins Windermere offices. All equipment will go through a professional cleaning and memory clear. Thank you in advance for your help in this project. Donations are NOW being accepted until 10/01/2020. #AllInForCommunity #WindermereFoundation

**Don’t have a device to donate? ChildSafe also accepts financial donations. Just click on the link below!! **

https://www.childsafecolorado.org/donate/

The post Electronic Device Drive Has Been Extended!!! appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.

Electronic Device Drive!!!

Device Donation

ChildSafe needs our help! Join us, through the Windermere Foundation, in an to benefit Childsafe.

One of the many challenges of the pandemic is getting support out to children that are currently benefiting from Childsafe services. Many children are home with their abusers during these days of quarantine. We are in need of iPads, tablets or old computers with internet and video capabilities to help these children get the support/services they need.

Please drop off your old devices at either the Windsor or Fort Collins Windermere offices. All equipment will go through a professional cleaning and memory clear. Thank you in advance for your help in this project. Donations are being accepted until 9/25/2020. #AllInForCommunity #WindermereFoundation

**Don’t have a device to donate? ChildSafe also accepts financial donations. Just click on the link below!! **

The post Electronic Device Drive!!! appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.

Electronic Device Drive!!!

Device Donation

ChildSafe needs our help! Join us, through the Windermere Foundation, in an to benefit Childsafe.

One of the many challenges of the pandemic is getting support out to children that are currently benefiting from Childsafe services. Many children are home with their abusers during these days of quarantine. We are in need of iPads, tablets or old computers with internet and video capabilities to help these children get the support/services they need.

Please drop off your old devices at either the Windsor or Fort Collins Windermere offices. All equipment will go through a professional cleaning and memory clear. Thank you in advance for your help in this project. Donations are being accepted until 9/25/2020. #AllInForCommunity #WindermereFoundation

**Don’t have a device to donate? ChildSafe also accepts financial donations. Just click on the link below!! **

The post Electronic Device Drive!!! appeared first on Windermere Colorado REALTORS.