The St. Croix Boys and Girls Club, Court Appointed Special Advocates and Women’s Coalition are each $1,000 richer because of the generosity of the St. Croix Board of Realtors. The Boys and Girls Club will be getting computer desk chairs, CASA is getting an after school tutor, and Women’s Coalition is putting the funds towards the “Burn Building.”
Board of Realtors President Caryn Hodge said they wanted the organizations getting the funds to be specific about what they needed. “The request had to be tied to something specific: to meet a goal, buy materials or for special programs,” Hodge said.
The St. Croix Board of Realtors wanted to do its part to give something to local nonprofit organizations since there is an expected downturn in the local economy.
The funds that come from dues have been distributed to the community in the past in the manner of scholarships and summer camp at the clubs.
Neil Canton, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club and a realtor himself, presented the board with an informational packet about the club during an annual fundraising campaign and informed the Realtors of the club’s needs.
Canton said the donation makes him feel good because the desk chairs are something he can check off his “to do” list, adding that V.I. Next Generation Network donated eight computers to the club with the understanding that the general public could have access to the computers at specific hours. “With the chairs we will be closer to opening to the public,” Canton said.
Gail Shearer, executive director of CASA, said that often, when a child is dealing with abuse and neglect, they get behind at school. “They need one-on-one instruction and tutoring before we can get them into other agencies like the Boys and Girls Club,” Shearer said. “We are thankful the community still wants to help with our mission.”
Clema Lewis, co-director at the Women’s Coalition, said the donation will go towards the rebuilding of the crisis center building. The coalition, in its 30th year of operation, had a setback with a major fire in August 2011 at the crisis center, followed later by the theft of electrical wiring at a new building on East Street.
Lewis told the handful of realtors gathered at the Palms at Pelican Cove about the brick campaign they are doing. “We are rebuilding brick by brick,” Lewis said. “We are asking the community for only one dollar a brick. Everyone can afford a dollar.”
“We are very grateful to the realtors for helping us realize our dream for the community,” Lewis said.
Rennica Wickham, assistant executive officer of the Board of Realtors, said the group is aware of the downturn in the local economy and they want the community to know the realtors are here to help.