Contribution announcement highlight of kick-off event

Many of you were kind to share your time with us last week for the foundation’s “kick-off” event for Heroes’ Commons at Jefferson Park. As expected, the Citrus Club provided a lovely backdrop of the city’s skyline for the event. Turnout was wonderful, and we were pleased to be able to share with you the announcement of our $180,000 contribution from the Fair Housing Continuum!

Joyce Odongo, vice president and senior community development officer at Wells Fargo, and David Baade, president and CEO of The Fair Housing Continuum, present a $180,000 check to the Florida Real Estate Foundation.

Thank you for coming!

Those attending the event at the Citrus Club were also among the first to see the foundation’s new video. The video outlines several of the challenges veterans face when they return home, and specifically addresses the need for accessible and affordable housing. In addition, the video provides design information about the homes of Heroes’ Commons at Jefferson Park as well as information about the exciting new developments and venues under construction in downtown Orlando. It really is a great time to be involved in the redevelopment of Orlando’s urban core. 

Special thanks goes to those who helped make the video possible: Michael Waldrop, chairman of the Mayor’s Veterans’ affairs advisory committee and co-founder of the Camaraderie Foundation; Allie Braswell, president and CEO of Braswell Management Group; Mayor Buddy Dyer; foundation Chairman Beverly Evans; and Channel 9 anchor Bob Opsahl, a Navy veteran.

Kathy Pierson and Ed Blackwinder produced the video and spent countless hours on script development and video choreography. I think you will agree, they did a tremendous job!