What can it look like for local businesses and households to network together for the sake of homeless students? I wanted to share a vision with you and ask you to consider getting involved.

Project 680 is doing an underwear drive for homeless students, so I figured a group of us could team up to help this important effort by pitching in. If 17 local businesses or familes each donate 25 pairs of underwear and my company donates 100, we’ll hit 500 pairs with ease. This team-approach will help us maximize results and put a big dent in Project 680′s goal to collect nearly 3000 pairs of new underwear by May 11, 2011.

If you do join the team, you’ll get a link below, links on the Project 680 website and SacTube, recognition on the P680 Facebook page, kudos on Twitter (and some other stuff too). Of course, the best thing you’ll get is the knowledge you did something good.

The All-Star Project 680 Donor Team
1.   Orange County Cellular
2.   JanMac Appraisals (Janice McNally)
3.   RosevilleandRocklin.com: Coldwell Banker Steve Ostrom & Team
4.   CTP Business & Personal Development Coaching
5.   Jenny Lundquist – Author
6.   Market Small
7.   Body Investment Studio       
8.   Soroptimist Organization in Rancho Cordova
9.   Mitchell Middle School in Rancho Cordova PTSA   
10.  Vice-Mayor David Sander City of Rancho Cordova     
11.  TBA      
12.  TBA      
13.  TBA      
14.  TBA      
15.  TBA      
16. TBA
17.   Lundquist Appraisal Company

This is a great way to maximize results and do a little good together. Business isn’t just about making money, but about making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Let me know if you’re interested in getting involved.

If you have any real estate appraisal, consulting, or property tax appeal needs in the Greater Sacramento Region, contact me at 916.595.3735, by email, on our appraiser website or via Facebook. 

If you’ve been spending any time reading this blog (thank you), you’ve heard me talk recently about Project 680 and a drive to collect 680 new hooded sweatshirts for homeless students in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. Well, last night we had our finale celebration at Rancho Cordova City Hall and I am very pleased and excited to officially announce we met our goal of 680 hoodies since we counted a total of 687 hoodies last night.

It’s been amazing to watch the community rally together for the sake of homeless students in the FCUSD. Local residents, businesses, churches and organizations really stepped up their game to to make this happen. Thank you everyone for your team-oriented mindset and support, whether big or small. 

Here is a brief video I shot to give you a glimpse into last night’s festivities.

I wanted to share with you that there are three weeks left in the Project 680 Hoody Drive. It’s been great to see everyone get involved so far, and I’d love to see others embrace the vision too. We definitely have some work left in our quest to collect 680 hoodies for homeless students in the FCUSD. Let’s keep going strong and advocate for homeless kids in this very practical and relevant way. If you have any questions or a desire to get involved, let me know.

By the way, this was the first video I took with my Flip Ultra 4GB video camera. I am really excited to have this camera. The lighting wasn’t great and there is a freeway close by, so settings weren’t ideal, but overall I am impressed with the quality so far for a $150 product. Are you a Flip owner?

I wanted to share some very exciting news. I am humbled and honored to announce that last week the Cordova Community Council graced me with the “Distinguished Service to Youth” award for my work with Project 680. I was not expecting this in any way and I feel extremely honored to have been selected for this annual award. I never do stuff for recognition, but sometimes recognition happens, and this means a great deal to me and my family.

I hesitated to share this news because I didn’t want to come across as self-absorbed or bragging. For anyone who knows me, you know that’s not the way I am. I crossed the line and decided to share though because this is important, friends would like to know, and it also helps get word out about Project 680.

Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement. Together we can make a difference and help solve problems in our community.

This isn’t related to real estate, but definitely worth sharing. My brother recently let me know about someone he heard of named Betty Londergan. Betty inherited some money and she started something called What Gives 365 Project. In short, Betty is giving away $100 every day to causes she chooses. And she’s blogging about it. 

“This is all my money. It comes from what my dad left each one of us kids when he died, and I can’t think of a single thing my mom would have loved more than to see me giving it away to worthy causes. (However, my dad would undoubtedly say that I need to get my head examined.)”

Why am I bringing this up? I am very pleased to announce that Betty donated $100 to Project  680, a grassroots organization I help steer. Read Betty’s post today on Project 680 entitled “Underwear, Socks, Shoes“.

What do you think of this and what Betty is doing?

I have a “Photos from the Field” category on my site that usually includes pictures relating to real estate somehow, but today I want to shift gears and share something a bit more personal – not TMI, but something that really matters to me.

Project 680 is a grassroots community effort to find practical ways to support local homeless students within the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. We dub ourselves Project “680″ because in 2008 we found out there were ”680″ documented homeless students in the FCUSD. That was shocking and unacceptable, so we decided to do something about it. Since then many individuals, organizations, churches and businesses have come together to advocate for local kids.   

Today was a very exciting day because a friend and I were able to go to Sunrise Elementary School in the Anatolia area of Rancho Cordova to say thank you to some all-star students who gathered items for Project 680. Three kindergarten classes ended up collecting 154 pairs of gloves, 67 hats, and 11 scarves for local homeless students. Way to go kids!!! (and teachers) We are proud of you!!!  

This is such great news and I wanted to share it with you. It’s just too good on so many levels, don’t you think?

Please know though that I don’t mention this to brag or boast in any way. I’m not looking for public kudos either. I just think it’s so important to take a stand for struggling kids as well as find a vision in life that makes a real difference. I am so thankful to be actively learning to live out a vision with locals in Rancho Cordova and Folsom through Project 680. That’s easy to write about.

Join the Project 680 Facebook Page.