Long Realty Cares Foundation Funds Van for Homeless-Veteran Program
Life is getting a little easier for housing-insecure veterans and their families, thanks to a major grant from the Long Realty Cares Foundation. The grant was made public Jan. 12 in a check-presentation ceremony.
The $40,000 grant from the Long Realty Cares Foundation—the philanthropic arm of the Long family of companies—will be used by Esperanza En Escalante to purchase a new 15-passenger, wheelchair-accessible Ford Transit van to transport veterans to their appointments.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Esperanza En Escalante was launched in 1989 by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 106 of Tucson, to provide housing and support programs—including nutrition, transportation, and employment readiness—to homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. Among its services: safe, secure transitional housing for up to two years.
“Reliable transportation is vital. This van is a lifesaver,” said Pat Beauchamp, Esperanza En Escalante’s director of operations. The new van replaces two aging vans—in service since 2008—that are “worn out, with tons of miles on them,” Beauchamp said. The van will transport program enrollees to appointments of all sorts, from medical to Social Security. Grocery shopping too, he said.
Established in 2002, the Long Realty Cares Foundation has raised more than $3.5 million to support community groups focused on education, health, community services, the arts and the environment. The foundation is funded largely by contributions from Long Companies agents and employees, as well as from the Long Companies organization itself. More than 200 nonprofits have received LRCF funding.
“We’re so grateful to be able to give back to the community, and especially to the veterans,” said Thom Melendez, LRCF board president. “This is the foundation’s 20th anniversary. We wanted to do something big, something that makes a real difference in people’s lives. I think we’ve done that.”
For more information, contact Michelle Salvagio, Long Realty Cares Foundation administrator, at MSalvagio@LongRealty.com or (520) 918-3757. The Esperanza En Escalante website is at www.eeeveterans.org
About Long Companies
Long Companies is comprised of Long Realty Company, Prosperity Home Mortgage, Agave Title Agency and Long Insurance Group – all working together to create a full range of real estate services and products. Based in Tucson, Long Realty Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., is the leading real estate brokerage company operating in southern Arizona. It offers an unparalleled level of award winning residential and commercial real estate services through a network of more than 1,400 licensed real estate associates in 45 offices, including 28 affiliate realty and property management companies that are independently owned and operated throughout Arizona. Long Realty Company has been helping generations of Arizonans achieve their dreams of home ownership since 1926. For more information, visit
www.LongRealty.com. The latest releases and announcements for Long Companies can be found at www.LongRealtyBlog.com
