Youth Foundation

History

Mission
The Youth Foundation promotes the welfare and betterment of children and young people up to 25 years of age in a variety of ways contributing to their physical and intellectual development and formation of character.


History
The real estate industry encompasses more than just real estate sales agents. It is comprised of many practitioners including appraisers, inspectors, attorneys, loan officers, and Title companies. These groups do many things to assist people with the purchase of homes, or invest in land or businesses. These groups also ascribe to a quality of life that extends beyond the property lines and reach into the community.

The Youth Foundation is managed by the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS® and has a history that is deeply immersed in the real estate industry here in the Metro Milwaukee area. The Youth Foundation roots begin in 1951 when REALTOR® and local builder Arthur Richards developed the Wisconsin and Maryland Hotels, the Marshall Hall Apartments, and the Empire Building. As his success grew in the construction and development business, so did passion for youth and the challenges that they face. Arthur’s commitment to youth became a continual benefit when upon his death a portion of his assets were given to the Milwaukee Board of REALTORS®, now named the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS®. Arthur’s instructions for his gift was that it be used only to help children and young adults through age twenty-five in the areas of Education, Social Services, and the Arts.

The Youth Foundation, Inc. is its own separate and legal entity and is managed by the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS® through a separate Board of Directors who are Members of the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS®. Since 1951, the Youth Foundation has honor Arthur’s intentions by awarding millions of dollars in grants and scholarships to local agencies and students.

Over the past two years, the Youth Foundation Board of Directors has desired to increase number of dollars, and the positive impact of the grants awarded into the community. In December 2009, the Board hired the Youth Foundation’s very first employee whose role is to plan and direct new activity that is designed to generate new revenue that will be given back to the community through more or higher level grants and scholarships.