[Springfield, Ill. – July 20, 2017] At a general membership breakfast on July 18, 2017 at Illini Country Club the Capital Area REALTORS (CAR) presented a check for $14,009.92 to the Springfield Art Association at Edwards Place.
Each year, CAR’s Community Service Committee chooses one organization or cause to support. For the entire year, CAR’s charitable fundraising is directed toward that particular cause. This year, the chosen cause was the Springfield Art Association at Edwards Place to help further the renovation efforts at this historic Springfield home. Several fundraising efforts were undertaken including a holiday raffle, the sale of mulligans at the Summer Golf Outing and a very popular and successful Trivia Night.
“REALTORS are about building community so it’s fitting we support efforts to further the legacy of the Edwards Place which played such a prominent role in the development of our community,” said Capital Area REALTORS President John Klemm.
“CAR’s contribution toward the restoration of the staircase is a critical repair to the structure that will expand our interpretation of the home and help us keep the story of Edwards Place and antebellum Springfield alive and engaging,” said Betsy Dollar, Executive Director of the Springfield Art Association. “The restoration of the stairs leading from the second floor to the attic will allow us to tell the story of the Edwards’ family servants, which is truly an American story: immigrants who came to this country and worked hard in order to build a better life for themselves,” said Erika Holst, Curator for the Edwards Place.
CAR expresses its thanks to the many individuals and businesses that made financial and in-kind contributions and the volunteers who made this fundraiser a huge success. All tolled, an impressive $14,009.92 was raised for this worthwhile cause.
“The important role that Edwards Place played in the history of our community coupled with our extremely enthusiastic Community Service Committee contributed to a hugely successful fundraiser,” said Tracy Shaw, Community Service Committee Chair.
Participating in the check presentation on behalf of CAR was John Klemm, President, Tracy Shaw, Community Service Committee Chair and members of the Community Service Committee. Representing the Springfield Art Association were Erica Holst, Curator and Mary Beth Burke, Development Director.
Over the past dozen years, CAR has donated nearly $200,000 to various causes, some of which include the Refuge Ranch, Friends of Sangamon County Animal Control, Boys and Girls Club of Central Illinois, Contact Ministries, Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, M.E.R.C.Y. Communities, Central Illinois Foodbank, Salvation Army, the Hoogland Center for the Arts, Southwind Park, Helping Hands of Springfield, “Relay-for-Life”, American Red Cross and the Iles House Foundation.
The Capital Area REALTORS® is the Voice for Real Estate in the Capital Area representing over 900 members in thirteen counties involved in all aspects of the real estate industry. The Capital Area’s Resource for Real Estate Information can be found at www.SeeHouses.com.
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