History of the Realtors® Youth Benefit Corporation.

In 1983 a group of Southeastern Vermont Board of Realtors® members got involved in the NAR (National Association of Realtors®) Make America Better Committee.  The local effort was led by Judy Gellert and Al Carbone. At about the same time Frank Martocci, Cathy Eakins, John Morrison and a number of other SEVBR members were working on building a picnic area in Dummerston, just below the covered bridge when they heard a story about the young daughter of a Dummerston, VT farmer who was having serious medical problems.  The family had no health insurance and was about to lose their dairy farm. This group of Realtors wanted to help these folks and Al Carbone came up with the idea for Realtors® Youth Benefit Corporation.  RYBC borrowed money from the SEVBR and got the charity started.  Make America Better and the picnic area morphed into the Realtor Youth Benefit Corporation and RYBC was able to give the family $500 toward their medical bills.

Soon after Frank Martocci that got RYBC involved with the Brattleboro Union High School Career Center.   At the time the Career Center built houses to provide hands on training for BUHS students.  Al Carbone, Frank Martocci and John Morrison went to First Vermont Bank and borrowed money to purchase the Career Center’s recent project, a house on Williams Street.  Brattleboro attorney Tim O'Connor became involved and RYBC converted the Williams Street house into a two unit condominium, selling both units and making a significant profit.  They then built and sold a house in Carriage Hill, which was less profitable. than they work on Another break-even house project which proved the end of RYBC’s housing construction. 

The next fund raiser took the form of a raffle for GEO Metro convertible which netted the group a few thousand dollars. Since then the only RYBC fund raiser has been its annual golf tournament.

The funds raised by RYBC have been used to help Windham County youth with eye glasses, dental work,  medical bills and after school programs for at-risk youth. Because of the flexible nature of the charity RYBC has been able to step in and provide help when others couldn’t.  RYBC has also purchased hundreds of cuddly teddy bears, used by first responders and rescue workers to calm and reassure children who lives have been touched by an accident or fire.
Since its inception RYBC distribution committee has raised and distributed, locally, more than $150,000.  Over the years the Distribution Committee has attracted some incredibly dedicated people.  Janet Walkewicz, Nancy Long, Anne Duzinski, Cathy Eakins, David Brown have a combined service record of over 100 years.  Realtors® and Realtor® Associates Barb Yankee, Danielle Lauria, Brandy Speno, Lisa DiBernardo,  Roni Byrne and Public Members, Joe Little and Sharon Steidle, make up the rest of the Distribution Committee.

The RYBC 2009 Golf Tournament Committee is chaired by Realtor® Associate Barb Yanke and includes David Brown, Danielle Lauria, Brandy Speno, Lisa DiBernardo, Roni Byrne and Mark Linton.

For more information about Realtors® Youth Benefit Corporation, see their website.