As part of its continual effort to make a difference in the community in which it lives and serves, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gallo Realty’s Gallo Gives Foundation awarded its 2017 second-quarter earning donations to PCAD (Prevent Child Abuse Delaware), Meals on Wheels, Gardenia House, and the Greater Lewes Community Village, while a portion of earnings has been set aside for two college-bound senior scholarships that will be made available in the spring of 2018. The second-quarter donations and scholarship funds total $10,750.

· $2,500 was awarded to PCAD (Prevent Child Abuse Delaware). Since 1978, PCAD has been providing resources and training to make sure every child has a safe and nurturing childhood, one free of abuse and neglect. Programs provided by the organization include: personal-safety education programs for schoolchildren; child sexual-abuse prevention through the Stewards of Children Program; education efforts focusing on partnering with parents and strengthening families; training workshops for home visitors, foster parents, and childcare providers; and advocacy and public-awareness activities to promote community involvement and support. The Gallo Gives Foundation funds will be directly applied to Sussex County programs. To learn more about PCAD, visit www.pcadelaware.org.

Photo Above: left to right: Gallo Gives Foundation Committee members Maureen Kyritsis and Tricia Ratner; Prevent Child Abuse Delaware’s Director of Advancement Lynn Wong; Gallo Gives Foundation Committee members Patsy Carpenter and Chet Carbaugh; PCAD volunteer and REALTOR® Harry Wooding; and BHHS Gallo Realty’s Vice-President Andrew Ratner.

· $2,500 was awarded to Meals on Wheels, specifically for the Celebrity Chefs’ Beach Brunch, which benefits the downstate meal-delivery program. Meals on Wheels Delaware is a nonprofit organization that provides and delivers meals every day to nearly 4,000 homebound seniors. Working with five meal-providing agencies and thousands of volunteers from corporations, civic, religious, and community groups, senior citizens are given the opportunity to retain their independence, maintain good health, and receive assistance when needed. For more information, visit www.mealsonwheelsde.org.

· $2,500 was awarded to the Gardenia House in Georgetown, Delaware. Purchased through the Lee Ann Wilkinson Group by Neil and Catherine Shister and managed by Carmelite Nun Sister Rosa Alvarez, the Gardenia House is a “safe home” for single mothers and their children who might otherwise be homeless. Most of the women are employed in the local poultry industry, which supplies most of the chicken consumed on the East Coast. To learn more, visit www.gardeniahouse.org.

· $2,000 was awarded to the Greater Lewes Community Village, which is a volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated tohelping older adults live independently at home for as long as possible. The Village provides volunteer support, services, and programs that enhance the lives of members by helping them remain engaged in a variety of social, educational, and cultural activities. For more information, visit www.greaterlewescommunityvillage.org.

The remaining second-quarter funds of $1,250 have been set aside to award two local graduating seniors with $2,500 scholarships to assist with their college tuition in the spring of 2018.

The Gallo Gives Foundation is funded through the company’s agents, management, and owners. Agents are encouraged to donate a percentage of their commissions earned, and the firm matches all agent/staff contributions 100 percent. 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 request 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.