The Estate Agency Foundation, which raises money to help homeless people, exceeded its £150,000 fundraising target for last year, raising over £156,600.
This is an increase of over 80% on the 2011 total.
Various events were hosted by the EAF including a 5-a-side football tournament, golf day, and a cycle ride sponsored by Zoopla, which raised the most money.
In addition, many agents held their own fundraising events throughout the year.
Most of the money raised, £126,224, was donated to charities. The three main recipients were Shelter, St Mungo’s and Broadway, with Shelter having proved an increasingly awkward and embarrassing choice as the year went on in view of its political lobbying against letting agents.
The EAF, along with Zoopla, has already announced it will not be donating funds to Shelter this year.
Other charities supported by EAF last year included local ones such as Hop4, Rugby, The Bridge, Leicester, Ark Light, York, and Emmaus, Cambridge.
Bill McClintock, chairman of the EAF, said: “We are delighted to have met our target in 2012 and to be able to support such worthwhile causes. A huge effort has been made by a lot of people to raise this significant amount of money and we would like to thank everyone for their involvement.”
Howard Sinclair, chief executive of Broadway Homelessness and Support, said: “We wholeheartedly welcome the amazing support from the Estate Agency Foundation. Every penny will be spent on improving the lives of vulnerable clients, empowering them to build on the foundations we have given them. Without groups like the EAF, this support would simply not be possible.”
A fundraising target of £250,000 has been announced for this year. Nominated charities will be announced shortly.
Comments
St Mungos are a great charity, I hope they benefit from some of the extra funds
I think that smaller charities will benefit as donations are diverted from Shelter.
Shelter are moving their position from a charity to a campaigning body and may even generate into activists. They will cross swords with many people and will find that a lot of people will choose not to support them taking their donations with them.