The funds that are raised through our various fundraising efforts, are primarily used to help residents of the Keys whose critical needs are not being met through other means. These funds have been distributed in the Florida Keys to qualified applicants to bridge a financial gap caused by some unfortunate, yet temporary, situation.

OUR NEIGHBORS
"Burton Memorial United Methodist Church, would like to share their grateful thanks to The Coldwell Banker Schmitt Charitable Foundation for their generous support to Burton’s Food Pantry. Our Food Pantry provides help to hundreds of people per month. Many of these recipients are children. It is run solely by volunteers and funded and stocked by private donations.  Because of the generosity of Coldwell Banker Schmitt Charitable Foundation, individuals and families in times of need or hardship, will not go hungry. The Coldwell Banker Schmitt Charitable Foundation will touch lives and have a positive impact on many residents here in our community. Additional thanks are also being offered to the generous hearts of the Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate agents, affiliates and business partners, which makes this funding available. Again, we give our thanks to all involved in this wonderful donation to help support our Florida Keys community."

MY BROTHERS KEEPER
We were honored this year to receive an award from the Southernmost Homeless Assistance League for the Business Partner of 2008.  In the presentation, it was said that w are the only group that works to prevent homelessness.  Our qualifying statement to all applicants is "we are there to provide temporary assistance to Keys residents who find themselves in a situation where circumstances such as illness or lack of work put them behind and they need only a leg up to get back on their feet." 

Ill and Injured...We provided help to three victims of catastrophic auto accidents and their families.  Supported a young Mother of three with breast cancer; a liver transplant survivor with back rent; esophageal cancer victim with his house payment. 

Laid off...We helped 6 families who had lay offs and a pregnant woman whose "laid off" husband left her.

Women and Children alone...We helped 8 applicants who were women and children alone.  Mothers taking care of grandmothers, great-grandmothers, siblings and their own children struggling to exist.

Joy...What a delight to know that a little six year old Cerebral Palsy victim and her grandparents moved into their own home that our generous donors helped make possible with closing costs paid and an elevator to carry her, thanks to our partners at the Fishermen's Hospital Association Board of Directors. 

More Joy...A three year old girl born without eyes is learning Braille thanks to our donors...We bought Braille teaching materials for the teacher...and for her...

Our Future...Our Kids...We sent a 21 year old handicapped man to Easter Seals Camp...Helped the Boys and Girls Soccer Teams travel to the AYSO tournament...Sent two disabled children to music camp...a Girl Scout to an International Camp for exceptional Scouts. 

Grieving...A widowed man needed assistance after the accidental death of his wife with house expenses and trombone lessons for their 10 year old son.  Music helped ease the pain.  A young widow with a toddler also needed outside help with funeral expenses and rent.  

Never Forget...50 Florida Keys servicemen and women received packages at Christmas from the Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, thanks to you.  

More Christmas...Santa showed up at all four Children Shelter locations with gifts; Christmas dinner and gifts for all the Heron House and Peacock Apartments residents; as well as soap, towels, etc. for all of the residents of MARC.

Lots of other stuff...Fixing wheelchairs; buying batteries for wheelchairs, along with hugs and flowers to the residents of the Plantation Key Nursing Home. 

All of the generosity makes it easy for us to keep up the work...please remember us at special times - to celebrate a birth, a life, an anniversary or just because!  We need you, to continue the work...to help them...one at a time!