3rd annual Make a Difference! Foundation Fundraiser. All proceeds benefit the Windermere Foundation, benefiting local families in need on Whidbey Island! Tickets at Windermere Coupeville and Oak Harbor, and OH Chamber of Commerce. It’s great fun for a great cause!

Click on the flyer to view homes that will be open — check back often as more homes will be added as we get closer to the event!

Do you have old electronics lying around and don’t have any place to take them? Windermere has the solution for you! Bring any unwanted electronics and/or appliances to our Oak Harbor office on Saturday, June 4th and we’ll recycle them for you. We’ll be here from 10:00-4:00 to take your items.

If you wish to come by between 11:00-2:00, we’ll be barbequing hot dogs and hamburgers.  We look forward to seeing you!

The following is a message from the corporate Windermere Foundation representative: 

Greetings from the Windermere Foundation,

Thanks to you and the wonderful support the Windermere Foundation has received so far this year, we disbursed over $836,000 to qualifying social service organizations dedicated to serving low-income and homeless families throughout the West.

 Our amazing agents, staff and owners, along with public supporters, continue to contribute generously to the Foundation. Gifts to the Foundation through the 3rd quarter of 2010 are up 23% compared to this time last year!

 Here is one of the great programs that received Foundation support:

 Oak Harbor, WA

 Dear Oak Harbor Associates,

 The Whidbey Island-Oak Harbor office received this letter from Opportunity Council, an organization they’ve supported for many years.

 “It has been an unprecedented year for our service center. We have seen more p eople come through our doors than ever, especially those seeking help for the first time. What many families considered ‘normal’ no longer exists and they find themselves in crisis. We appreciate your consistent consideration and support of families in our community.

 …Seven families (including 11 children) have received shelter and intensive supportive services. Five of those have moved into transitional or permanent housing.

 We are grateful for your assistance.”

 -Opportunity Council, Service Center Director

This is our 2^nd Annual Make a Difference Foundation Fundraiser.

Good times for a good cause.  Mark Friday, October 22^nd on your calendar as the day to Make a Difference! All proceeds benefit the Windermere Foundation.  Last year, with your help, we raised over $8000.  Our goal is $10,000 this year!

Two bands playing for local charities: Johnny Bulldog and Jacob’s Road.  You may know that the lead singer of Johnny Bulldog is Johnny ‘Bulldog’ Tristao, who’s the lead singer for Creedence Clearwater Revisited.  Jacob’s Road is made up of local guys, including Mitch Aparicio, a Coupeville High School Alumni.  Both bands are going to rock the house for the Windermere Foundation, a non-profit organization helping homeless and low-income families. LOCAL non-profit agencies receiving Windermere Foundation dollars have furnished emergency and transitional housing, subsidized costs for services such as health care, employment counseling, placement and training, day care, scholarships and much more.  The Foundation has supported local charities such as CADA, Help House, Opportunity Council, Margie’s House,  and Habitat For Humanity, to name a few.

So put October 22^nd on your calendar-doors open at 7:00.  Cash bar, heavy appetizers, along with raffles throughout the evening, which include a week’s stay in Mexico, Europe and South America! Tickets on sale now for $25. 

For tickets, call 360.675.5953, or find them at Windermere Oak Harbor & Coupeville, as well as at the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

The Windermere Oak Harbor office divided forces and worked on two projects on June 18^th.  We refurbished a local park near our office and made the playground at Head Start a nice place for the children to play.

 Projects at Head Start included creating a walking path, digging a trench, weeding and mowing. All in all, we basically created a backyard for the children, most of which do not have a place at their home to play.

 In a wonderful thank you letter from Debbie Scheer, director of Head Start, “Thank you for all your hard work in our play area! The children love rolling in the dirt and riding on the new path. Being able to see the children enjoy the backyard means so much to us. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, it is greatly appreciated!”

Like most Washingtonians I like the heat, but it’s getting a little too hot these days.  As most of us try to figure out how to keep cool we sometimes forget that man’s best friend is feeling it, too. 

We all know to keep water out for our dogs, but how often do you change it?  Experts say it is important to change their water frequently.  Makes sense doesn’t it?  I know I don’t like water that’s been sitting out in the sun or heat all day that may or may not have bugs and bacteria in it. 

Make sure your pup has some shade to lie in. Dogs can get sunburned.  If he’s going to be inside a cool floor is optimum; basements are a great place for him to cool off as the floors are usually nice and chilly.

If you’re taking him on a walk or to the play at the park/beach bring water for him, too!  Also, check the blacktop road or sand to see how hot it is.  Dogs’ pads are tough but can easily burn.  If the road is too hot for your bare feet, chances are Fido doesn’t want to walk on it, either.  Take him for walks early or late in the day, you will enjoy it more as well.  [Read more...]

Everyone knows who Habitat for Humanity is-but most think they just build houses for families.  I would say they do much, much more than that; they help build dreams.

 Last Friday, all 4 Whidbey Island Windermere offices were closed for Community Service Day, as we do the third week in June every year.  The Oak Harbor office helped build those dreams while siding and landscaping a Habitat house.  This was a very special day for us, as the awaiting homeowner was also on-site building away on her first home.  We worked, we laughed, and most of all, we had a good time. If you ever get the chance to help on a Habitat build, I would highly recommend it.  For information on how to volunteer, visit Island County Habitat.