The Coldwell Banker Realty Cares Foundation (CBRCF) donated $75,000 to Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta (BPBMA) a little over a year after the nonprofit began serving local food-insecure children with weekend meals. 

The donation, the largest the organization has received, follows a $5,000 contribution CBRCF made last year after sales associate Debbie Sonenshine brought the organization to the attention of the foundation. The money will provide 100,000 meals to children in the Atlanta region and help the group expand from serving 800 children at 27 area schools to serving 1,600 children at 41 schools. 

“We are very grateful to Debbie Sonenshine for casting a light on this wonderful organization that assists local families by providing weekend meals to children and to everyone in our company who joined us in supporting Backpack Buddies this year,” said Laura Rittenberg, president of Coldwell Banker Realty in Atlanta. “We hope it brings awareness to the needs of families who are going through difficult situations in the Atlanta region and beyond.” 

Besides the financial support, CBRCF has provided Coldwell Banker Realty’s Alpharetta and Sandy Springs Perimeter offices to serve as distribution locations in Backpack Buddies’ system. 

“This generous donation is a proof point of our efficient model to feed children in need and will serve our continued growth,” Backpack Buddies founder Ron Robbins said in a press release. “In my wildest dreams, I would never have imagined that our board and staff could have accomplished so much in such a short period of time. In addition, our Community Buddies, participating schools and volunteers have made BPBMA a new standard in feeding hungry children on weekends.”