At Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate (PSA), we believe in the power of community and the importance of giving back. This August, we proudly teamed up with the Friends of Fusion Foundation for a remarkable cause: providing sneakers to homeless children enrolled in Delaware public schools through the Shoes That Fit program. Thanks to the overwhelming support from our agents, partners, and friends, we’re thrilled to announce the incredible success of our month-long campaign.
Pictured:
Front row: Brian Hadley, Jeffrey Leggett, Joanne Glauser, and Nic DeCaire; Middle row: Terri Wamba, Linda Hanna, Angela Allen, and Donna Greenspan; Back rows: Casey Hadley, Karen Burke, Dave Iliff, Vicki Feeney, Sal Sedita, and Nicolette Pomijie.
Building Momentum: An Empowering Partnership
Our collaboration with Friends of Fusion began with a powerful goal—ensure every homeless child in Delaware starts the school year with a new pair of sneakers. When the Delaware chapter of Shoes That Fit identified over 3,200 children in need across the state, PSA committed to stepping in with our network of support. For every transaction that reached settlement in August, we donated a pair of shoes to a child in need.
The Friends of Fusion Foundation, known for its unwavering commitment to supporting local children, young adults, and first responders, found a perfect partner in Patterson-Schwartz. From the moment we launched our collaboration in early August, the impact was immediate, sparking an outpouring of online donations for Shoes That Fit on day one. Nic DeCaire, founder of Friends of Fusion, took to social media to applaud the campaign’s swift momentum: “Thank you, Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate, for raising enough funds for 28 pairs of sneakers in just 24 hours. We truly appreciate your incredible support.”
The energy for this campaign only gained in speed from there.
The Impact: Over 350 Pairs of Shoes Donated
When PSA set our internal goal for the campaign, we aimed to donate 250 pairs of shoes through transactions alone. But thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we exceeded that target by over 100 pairs! By the end of August, PSA had donated a remarkable 379 pairs of shoes to Shoes That Fit.
These donations were made possible by the contributions of our agents, affiliates, friends, and partners— including Pike Creek Mortgage, who matched our donations for the loans they closed with PSA in August.
Our agents were quick to jump on board, spreading the word and contributing to the cause. Andrea Carbaugh from the Lauri Brockson Group in PSA Newark shared, “As a former teacher, I bought countless pairs of shoes for students. You CAN make a difference!” Gina Cockerille of PSA Rehoboth echoed this sentiment, saying, “This is one of the many reasons I love Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate.”
The Hadley Group of PSA Hockessin took their commitment one step further, pledging to continue donating a pair of sneakers for every transaction they complete for the remainder of 2024.
Our agents’ passion for this cause will continue to benefit local children long after the campaign’s official close.
Celebrating a Successful Campaign
In early October, members of the PSA family had the opportunity to meet representatives from Friends of Fusion and the Delaware chapter of Shoes That Fit to celebrate the campaign’s tremendous success. It was an emotional and inspiring moment for everyone involved.
Jeffrey Leggett, President of the Friends of Fusion Foundation since its inception, shared his heartfelt gratitude: “I get really emotional at this… the golf outings, the running community, and now Patterson-Schwartz, you’ve been so generous to us. It’s amazing. Coming up on our 5-year anniversary, when we set out to do this, we never thought we’d be able to give out $20,000-25,000 to the community. With this campaign, we’re probably going to hit about $140,000. It’s mind-blowing.”
Joanne Glauser, who has been running the Delaware chapter of Shoes That Fit alongside her husband for 26 years, expressed her deep appreciation for the campaign’s success. She highlighted how this groundbreaking partnership brought the goal of providing a pair of sneakers to every homeless child in Delaware schools within reach. “It’s never been done before. We are the first state to accomplish this nationwide,” she shared.
Click here to learn more about the PSA and Friends of Fusion Shoes That Fit Campaign.
Moving Forward: A Commitment to Community
As we celebrate the conclusion of this campaign, we remain dedicated to supporting our community in meaningful ways. The success of this fundraiser demonstrates what we can accomplish when we come together.
Thank you to everyone who participated and donated to Shoes That Fit. Your generosity has made a real difference in the lives of children across Delaware, and we are deeply grateful. Together, we’ve shown that every step matters, and we look forward to continuing our work to help those in need.
About Us
At Patterson-Schwartz, we believe in giving back to our community. In addition to the countless hours our sales associates and employees dedicate to charitable causes, we donate a portion of the proceeds from every real estate transaction to the PSA Foundation. Since 2001, the PSA Foundation has donated nearly $1.4 million to local charities and organizations close to our hearts