Members of the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester (BRI) Raise Over $20,000 for Lifting Up Westchester
Members of the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester (BRI) Raise Over $20,000 for Lifting Up Westchester
ARMONK, N.Y. – The membership of the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region (BRI) recently raised over $20,000 for Lifting Up Westchester (LUW), a local nonprofit organization that provides food, shelter, and assistance to women and children in need. The fundraiser ran throughout the holiday season, with the BRI pledging to match any donation made by its individual members.
“Part of what makes the BRI so great is that our members are willing to give back to their communities without hesitation. We only had this fundraiser up for a few weeks and we quickly exceeded our goal!” Lisa DeRosa, President of the BRI. “2020 had been a difficult year for many and Lifting Up Westchester is a phenomenal organization that does so much for the most vulnerable residents of Westchester County. I’m very proud that the BRI could assist them in their mission.”
LUW supportive housing programs partner with more than 200 county landlords to provide affordable housing for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, mental illness, substance abuse and/or chronic homelessness. The agency provides budget management, rental assistance, and ongoing case management to ensure that these individuals retain their housing. Their success has been phenomenal: 90% of clients placed in housing have remained stably housed for over five years.
In another program called Pathways to Self-Sufficiency, a Housing Retention Specialist helps shelter clients find affordable housing and teaches them how to be good tenants. Ongoing follow up with clients and their landlords ensures that any problems that could result in a return to homelessness are addressed immediately.
Finally, LUW runs Grace’s Kitchen, the largest food bank in White Plains. Due to the pandemic, they are not accepting food donations this year but still need help to provide 4,000 holiday meals to the homeless and hungry members of our communities.
“BRI members are not just builders, landlords, or small business owners – they’re neighbors, friends, and part of the fabric of our communities throughout Westchester,” said BRI Executive Director Tim Foley. “We’re living through unprecedented times, and the urgent need for a safe and secure place to call home has been especially critical this year. We’re proud that our members came together to raise money and awareness for LUW, and we look forward to partnering with them in the years to come.”
The Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region (BRI), based in Armonk, has more than 1,800 members in 14 counties of New York State, including home builders, commercial builders, renovators, property managing agents, co-op and condo boards, and owners of multifamily apartment buildings in many communities, as well as suppliers and service providers with a special focus on real estate. The BRI’s mission is to improve the relationships among builders and real estate business owners to the mutual advantage of the industry. For additional information, please visit https://www.buildersinstitute.org.
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