Since 2005, the Greater Raleigh-Durham Chapter 105 of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) has designated proceeds from its President’s Cup Challenge Golf Tournament to Urban Ministries of Wake County. This year, the organization was able to donate $500 to the local non-profit service organization—bringing their seven-year total to over $7,500.

Urban Ministries of Wake County alleviates the effects of poverty in Wake County by meeting people’s basic needs for food, shelter, and healthcare and by providing services that promote self-sufficiency and building awareness of the issues of poverty within the larger community by leveraging financial support with volunteers and in-kind contributions. According to the organization’s website, in the past year alone, 23,000 people were served by Urban Ministries of Wake County, 52,000 prescriptions were filled, 8,290 families received one week’s groceries, and 300 women received shelter and support.

The organization’s food pantry is the second largest in Wake County and distributed 240 tons of food or 404,000 meals in 2010. Its JobLink office provides employment assistance and online job searches and is the busiest center of its kind in Wake County. Last year, the Crisis Support Program provided social work counsel and referrals to nearly 7,000 individuals and families in crisis. Ninety-four cents out of every dollar go directly to client services and last year, the organization actively engaged the assistance of over 1,500 volunteers who donated over 37,000 hours of free services—the equivalent of 20 full-time staff.

Jason Stowe, CPM, IREM President and this year’s Golf Committee Chair, says that he’s proud to be able to continue supporting the good works and contributions made by Urban Ministries of Wake County. He said that given the current challenges for community organizations to raise funds this year, his association made extra efforts to draw people to its golf event.

“Because Urban Ministries of Wake County has such a positive impact on so many families in our area, our Chapter and Golf Committee leaders took every opportunity to attract sponsors and raise as much money as possible for this organization,” says Stowe. “I’d like to personally thank all involved for working so tirelessly and diligently throughout the year to make this event happen. Despite the continued economic difficulties experienced by everyone, we were able to give a respectable donation to Urban Ministries, which will go to help individuals and families within our own community.”

For more information about Urban Ministries of Wake County or to make a donation, visit www.urbanmin.org.