Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski continues to do anything in his power to keep people in their own homes, safe from foreclosure, through whatever means possible. His compassion last year led to the creation of the Hopeful Home Fund, established in cooperation with the United Way of Southwest Michigan. He’s hopeful that the people of Southwest Michigan will help that fund to continue this year and beyond.
When Witkowski worked with Anna Murphy and her team at United Way a year ago, the goal was to help homeowners who were on the brink of losing their homes due to delinquent past due taxes. At that time, Shannon O’Brien of Stevensville and her triplet high school daughters received funds from that inaugural Hopeful Home Fund to cover back taxes as she was battling breast cancer. The result kept her from losing her home to foreclosure.
Shannon says, “There are no words to express the depth of my gratitude to the generous donors to the Hopeful Home Fund. The gift my family received lifted the burden of worrying about losing my home and allowed me to focus on fighting my breast cancer.”
Witkowski, in reprising the fund this year says, “It is my hope that the great people of Berrien County will once again step up and donate to help a Berrien County family—who is behind on taxes due to circumstances beyond their control—to keep their home and avoid foreclosure.”
As County Treasurer, he reminds us, all donations are completely tax deductible. Donations can be made to United Way Hopeful Home Fund and sent to United Way of Southwest Michigan, 2015 Lakeview Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085.
Witkowski will be grateful for whatever gifts can be made in this holiday season or at any other time of the year, as he continues to work around the clock to keep people safe from foreclosure.
