SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation Gifts $100,000 to Three Local Nonprofits

SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation recently announced the recipients of its grant program, which this year will provide a total of $100,000 to three area programs that are committed to improving the communities they serve. The designated funds of the grant program support the qualifying candidates based on one or more key focus areas of the Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS® including advocacy, community engagement, professional development or communications, also known as the four pillars of SPAAR, to help create Better Agents and Better Communities.

“We’ve been excited to make a difference through grants in past years and are especially glad to see the tradition continue this year,” said Amy Peterson, president of SPAAR’s REALTORS® Charitable Foundation. “These grants are timely for current challenges such as Covid-19 and provide important investments in our communities.”

The 2020 grant recipients are:

University of Minnesota and its Mapping Prejudice Project in partnership with SPAAR’s Diversity Committee. Mapping Prejudice received $50,000 to continue to promote homeownership to diverse communities and expand its research of restrictive covenants in Ramsey County.

Housing First Minnesota Foundation, and its North St. Paul Project provides a transitional living residence for homeless Veteran families and individuals. Housing First Minnesota Foundation received $25,000.

Safe Summer Nights, Inc., a program that supports food and supplies for events that bring the St. Paul police together with the neighborhoods they serve, including individuals and families in need of a meal. Safe Summer Nights received $25,000 for continued summer programming.
On August 24, SPAAR held a socially distanced check presentation where REALTORS® Charitable Foundation members presented the checks to the three 2020 grant recipients.

SPAAR and its REALTORS® Charitable Foundation have previously provided $50,000 grants each since 2018 to Rondo Avenue, Inc., Meals from the Heart, Great River Greening and Rondo Center for Diverse Expression.