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Fostering Goodwill, Strengthening Communities, Building a Better Quality of Life
Join the Foundation In the Fight Against Foreclosure
$65,000 Approved for Two New Foreclosure Assistance Projects
GBBR Rental Transition Loan Program
The Foundation, the G.B.B.R. Federal Credit Union, and Regional Management, Inc. are partnering to help homeowners facing foreclosure who need rental housing. Eligible prospective tenants of Regional Management who are going through the foreclosure process or who have lost their home to foreclosure in the last year can secure funds for the security deposit and first month's rent with a low-interest, short-term loan from the G.B.B.R. Federal Credit Union. Under the program, the Foundation will guarantee the loan.
The new pilot program will not only assist former homeowners in obtaining affordable rental housing, but it will also help them rebuild their credit histories so that they may again become homeowners.
For more information, contact Chris Davis at 410-337-7200 or Chris@GBBR.org.
St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center Counseling Grant
The Foundation has awarded St. Ambrose a $40,000 grant to expand the availablity of foreclosure prevention counseling in the Baltimore metropolitan area, including providing services at GBBR's Lutherville office. In addition to increased counseling services, St. Ambrose will also provide foreclosure prevention seminars and classes at GBBR to educate REALTORS®and the public.
Since 1968, St. Ambrose has been committed to providing innovative, comprehensive housing services and quality affordable homes to meet the challenges facing vulnerable homeowners and neighborhoods. The Foreclosure Prevention Division counsels families who may be experiencing financial trouble with their mortgage or seeking a home equity conversion mortgage. St. Ambrose is a HUD-approved counseling agency and does not charge any fees for its services. For more information, visit www.stambros.org.
Our Mission
The Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, Inc. (the GBBR Charitable Foundation) supports and engages in charitable, civic, educational and humanitarian activities and programs designed to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods within the Baltimore metropolitan area.
What We Do
The GBBR Charitable Foundation is helping to lay the groundwork for a better life in Baltimore communities and for people living in those communities – for today and the future. The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support, in-kind donations of services, expertise and time to organizations and projects that are working to improve Baltimore-area neighborhoods.
The Foundation has supported the following projects and activities, which reflect our visions of expanding homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families, fostering a strong community spirit, and providing educational and recreational opportunities for at-risk children and youth:
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Year In Review
Caroline Center
The Caroline Center helps unemployed and underemployed women acquire the discipline, knowledge and skills necessary to obtain jobs that are fulfilling, pay a living wage with benefits, and offer opportunity for advancement. The Foundation awarded a $2,500 grant to support the Certified Nursing Assistant and Pharmacy Technician programs.
Jubilee Baltimore
Jubilee Baltimore is dedicated to creating strong housing markets in Baltimore City neighborhoods. In support of their efforts to maximize their online presence and attract prospective residents and donors, the Foundation awarded a $2,500 grant to help with the cost of their website redesign.
Students Sharing Coalition
Students Sharing provides community leadership and service experiences to students from diverse backgrounds with a goal of fostering a lifelong commitment to community involvement and civic responsibility. The Foundation's $2,500 grant award will assist with program costs for the high school service-learning program.
Home Partnership, Inc. Acquisition Rehab Program
 
Home Partnership, Inc. is an organization dedicated to focusing the resources of businesses, the community and government for the purpose of promoting homeownership. Their mission is to expand access to affordable and successful homeownership for low and moderate-income families and to combat community deterioration. The Foundation sponsored HPI's Acquisition Rehab Program which rehabs, develops and sells single family homes to income-eligible families in the upper Chesapeake region (Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties). To be eligible to purchase an HPI house, buyers must earn less than 115 percent of the area median income adjusted by family size.
Women's Housing Coalition
WHC received a $2,500 grant award to help provide housing, supportive services and direct client assistance to very low-income, homeless women and children in Baltimore City. The WHC is dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness in the City for women and their children by fostering their economic and social independence and by advocating for the increased availability of quality, affordable housing.
Rebuilding the Playground at Stadium Place
Sadly, our beloved Playground at Stadium Place was destroyed by arson in September 2008. The Foundation reaffirmed its ongoing support for the Playground and surrounding communities by pledging monetary and volunteer support for the rebuilding effort.
 
We kicked off our effort by presenting a $1,000 contribution during a WLIF-FM fundraising event at the playground, and at the same time, issued a challenge to other area organizations to show their support for the rebuilding effort and bring smiles back to Stadium Place. During the build in May, more than 20 GBBR members and friends volunteered their time and talents to help with the reconstruction.
Adopt-A-Classroom Program
The Adopt-A-Classroom program harnesses the resources of the community to enrich the classroom environment and increase a student’s chance for success. One hundred percent of your contribution to the program goes directly to benefit students in a local classroom. Each adopted classroom receives a $500 contribution for supplies and materials to supplement classroom activities.
Thank you to all! We are pleased to announce that $11,000 was raised to adopt 22 classrooms for the 2009-2010 school year. To date, 159 classrooms in the Baltimore area have been adopted by donations from GBBR members and friends!
Maryland Mentoring Partnership
The Foundation continued its support of the Maryland Mentoring Partnership with a $5,000 award to help further develop and strengthen youth mentoring programs throughout Maryland.
Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity
 
The Foundation has made a major commitment of time and resources to Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity. Over the past ten years, the Foundation has contributed $120,000 and hundreds of volunteer hours to help with the rehabilitation of eight houses in the Baltimore City neighborhoods of Waverly, Penn Lucy, Washington Village, McElderry Park, and Patterson Park.
“The GBBR Charitable Foundation cares about the communities where it invests funds. With most other foundations, we don’t see trustees and other affiliated members getting involved in a hands-on way to supplement their financial contribution, but GBBR always sends volunteers. It’s a great way for them to stay personally connected with the projects they choose to fund. It’s also a great way for us to stay connected with decision-makers at GBBR, so that we can keep them aware of our most current challenges, accomplishments and needs – and GBBR always listens. We’re grateful that we’ve been able to form such great relationships with people within GBBR.” - Marisa Canino, Former Deputy Director
Rebuilding Together Baltimore
Rebuilding Together Baltimore provides critical home repairs to individual low-income homeowners and helps preserve and revitalize Baltimore neighborhoods. The Foundation has provided financial and volunteer support for Rebuilding Together’s annual Rebuilding Day. Rebuilding Day brings together hundreds of volunteers to repair homes and clean-up neighborhoods.
In addition to a $3,000 financial contribution, the Foundation coordinated a volunteer team to help with community beautification projects in Baltimore City's Park Heights/Coldspring Lane Corridor for Rebuilding Day 2010 on April 24th.
Past Projects & Grant Recipients
United Way of Central Maryland
Gilmor Elementary School Makeover
The Baltimore Station
Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. (CHAI)
Baby Shower to Benefit the Building Blocks Nursery
Baltimore County's Housing Resource Day
Community Law Center
Metro Housing, Inc.
Chimes International
Our Playground at Stadium Place
Women's Housing Coalition
Communities of Care
“Knowing Housing Fraud When You See It” Media Campaign
The Mortgage Fund for the Family of Slain Police Sgt. Bruce Prothero
REALTORS® Relief Foundation
REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project
REALTORS® Housing Relief Fund for the Families of Victims of the 9/11 Attack
Click Here to Learn More About Our Past Projects
Previous Honors
2008 Maryland Association of REALTORS® CARE Award Second Honorable Mention
2006 Mayor's Business Recognition Award
2006 Baltimore County Good Neighbor Volunteer Service Award
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