Christmas is all year, every year, for some organizations such as the Realtors Youth Benefit Corporation, which has raised and distributed more than $150,000 to area youth since 1983. Originally, members of the Southeastern Vermont Board of Realtors® who were involved in the NAR (National Association of Realtors®) “Make America Better” Committee heard the story of a young daughter of a Dummerston, VT farmer who had serious medical issues, but whose family did not have the financial resources to manage it. Realtors® Frank Martocci, Cathy Eakins, John Morrison and Al Carbone were inspired to form Realtors® Youth Benefit Corporation so they could donate funds to the young person in need. Though they had originally borrowed money from their parent organization, SVBR, they initiated many events and continue to raise funds each year primarily now from the RYBC Golf Tournament that occurs in the fall at Mt. Haystack Golf Course. This September, the tournament raised $6,250 profit after expenses.
The Realtors® Youth Benefit Corporation evolved beyond just raising money for kids with medical needs when Frank Martocci spearheaded the house building projects which was coordinated with Brattleboro Union High School Career Center. Attorney Timothy O’Connor along with John Morrison, Al Carbone, Frank Martocci and bankers at First Vermont Bank helped RYBC raise more funds while helping students build houses and learn how the real estate industry works.
RYBC has distributed money to various young people throughout Windham County over the many years for eye glasses, dental work, medical bills and scholarship or tuition for camp and after school programs for area youth. David Brown, of Better Homes and Garden/Masiello Group, has been a long time member of RYBC and serves on the Distribution Committee explained “the evolution of the needs of the area kids has grown from just medical needs into enrichment activities such as camps, swim passes, sports and artistic endeavors for kids who don’t have the funds. We have great communication with the area service providers such as Youth Services, Brattleboro Parks & Recreation Department, River Gallery School, Green Mountain Girls Camp, Lewis Day Camp, Camp Waubanaug, YMCA Camp, and New England Youth Theatre among others. We have worked with Mollie Burke and supported her summer arts project with Westgate through her Art in Neighborhood organization for a few seasons as well as the Circus Arts Camp and Therapeutic Horse Back Riding Camp. We have certainly seen an increasing need for kids with special needs because of the changes in state laws and we work hard to keep the RYBC fulfilling its mission. It’s clear that there are needs not being met and we’re committed to helping fill in the gaps.”
Ginger Gaudette, mom of Charlie and Sam Galanes, is still full of gratitude that RYBC paid the summer camp fees one summer when her family experienced an unfortunate incident. Gaudette further emphasized, “It was such a relief to me knowing I could go back to work and while my 7 and 9 year olds were engaged in healthy activities. I also appreciated the importance of RBYC asking for some kind of professional backup to my request. They seem to have a good rapport and coordination with professionals and services providers in the area to meet kids’ needs.”
“School guidance counselors are often the source for special requests, especially for those needs that are not met by other programs,” adds Brown. “In recent years, we were able to provide special beds, a special size mattress and even a custom life vest that allowed a child to take swimming lessons, which none would have been covered under the family’s insurance programs.”
There are numerous Realtors® including Janet Walkewicz, Nancy Long, Anne Duzinski who with the RYBC 2009 Golf Tournament Committee Chairperson Realtor® Associate Barb Yanke, Realtors® David Brown, Danielle Lauris, Brandy Speno, Lisa Dibernaardo, Roni Byrne and Mark Linton work hard to make Christmas an ongoing year round activity. RYBC has a new website www.rybcvt.com and can also be contacted via Southern Vermont Board of Realtors® website www.svtrealtors.com.