As part of its ongoing effort to support the community, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty has formed the Gallo Gives Foundation.  First-quarter foundation earnings were awarded to the Cape Henlopen Food Basket and the Lighthouse for Broken Wings, while a portion of earnings has been set aside for a college-bound senior scholarship that will be available in the spring of 2017.

A partner agency of the Food Bank of Delaware, the Cape Henlopen Food Basket is located on Oyster Road in the Rehoboth Beach resort community.  The organization serves approximately 200 hungry families from the Cape Henlopen School District each month.  Some come for emergency food, while others need supplemental food to help get them through the month. Eighty dedicated volunteers staff and maintain the Food Basket, which is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Lighthouse for Broken Wings is a new organization that seeks to help the homeless, some of our most vulnerable community members. While not a shelter, but a directed personal development program, the program provides counseling and lifestyle and health coaching.  Housing six formerly homeless individuals, each “roommate” is required to have employment, pay nominal rent, maintain the home, and perform community service.   The program works with each individual until he becomes autonomous and able to support himself outside the Lighthouse.

The Gallo Gives Foundation is funded primarily through the company’s agents, management, and staff. Agents are encouraged to donate a percentage of their commissions earned, and the firm matches all agent and staff contributions 100 percent.  In addition, Gallo Realty will produce certain events that will benefit the foundation.  Public donations will be accepted as well. Each Gallo Realty office, in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and Bethany Beach, is represented by individuals who serve on the foundation’s Giving Committee. The committee researches community charities in need and recommends funding. The foundation is managed by the Greater Lewes Foundation. To apply for assistance for your charity or organization, please send information to Andrew Ratner, BHHS Gallo Realty, 37230 Rehoboth Avenue Ext., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.

About BHHS Gallo Realty

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty is an award-winning, full-service real estate firm that has been serving the resort region since 1979.  The firm has three main offices, located in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach, with two satellite locations in the Lewes area.  The company is independently owned and operated. Visit www.GoToGallo.com for details.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, based in Irvine, CA, is a brand-new real estate brokerage network built for a new era in residential real estate. The network, among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name, brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of trust, integrity, stability and longevity. Visit www.berkshirehathawayhs.com for details.

About HSF Affiliates LLC

HSF Affiliates LLC, based in Irvine, CA is a joint venture of which HomeServices of America, Inc., the nation’s second-largest, full-service residential brokerage firm, is a majority owner. HomeServices of America is an affiliate of world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway InC.

Photos:

Pictured at the Cape Henlopen Food Basket, left to right:  Gallo Gives Foundation committee members Norm Price, David Plivelich, Barbara Morales, and Alyssa Bishop, Cape Henlopen Food Basket President John DeVoll, Gallo Gives member Chris Allen, Cape Henlopen Food Basket Vice-President Nancy Steele, and Gallo Gives members Sandy Wright and Mary Cerami.

Presenting the check to Toni Short (front left) of the Lighthouse for Broken Wings home, left to right:  Gallo Gives committee members Barbara Morales, Tricia Ratner, Sandy Wright, Mary Cerami, Chris Allen, Norm Price, David Plivelich, and Alyssa Bishop.