The West Seattle/Fauntleroy Windermere office was reigning cats and dogs, and toddlers, too, last Saturday at "Santa Paws", their Christmas fundraiser for the Windermere Foundation. A menagerie of pets and people, some frantic, queued up for photos with a very patient Santa Claus. Donations were accepted. According to the office, Santa was photographed with nearly 50 groups of people and pets.

According to the Windermere Foundation website, "For the past 23 years, the Windermere Foundation has donated a portion of the proceeds from every home purchased or sold towards supporting low-income and homeless families in our communities. What started in 1989 as a grassroots foundation serving families in need in Washington State, has grown to encompass ten states and has raised over $22 million for programs and organizations that provide shelter, clothing, children’s programs, emergency assistance, and other services to those who need our help the most."

Real estate agent and West Seattle resident Mary Ann Vandergriff has been the Foundation representative for the 4526 California Ave. office for nearly 18 years.

"This is our fourth year hosting Santa," said Vandergriff. "Our Fauntleroy office and West Seattle office merged this year, so many who came in (to the West Seattle location) had been coming into the other office so it was especially crowded, and successful. This year we are asking for donations through Christmas Day for the 'Windermere Kids at the Y (YMCA) before and after school program' located at West Seattle Elementary School. Also, our office had 'adopted' three families for Christmas chosen through family support workers at West Seattle Elementary School."

Vandergriff invites those who can to bring into the office any of the following items listed:

Blockus, Apples to Apples, any Lego sets, Loot card game, playing cards, UNO, chess sets, watercolor paper, "play food" for toy kitchen, "play clothes" for dress-up, notebooks, pencils, books including Harry Potter, Magic Tree House, Junie & Jones, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The office is also searching for a Dell Inspiron 570 computer with monitor.

Monetary donations can be made through the Foundation. For more information, visit the Windermere Foundation website: http://www.windermere.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.libraryHTMl&cont…

You can also donate by phoning Mary Ann Vandergriff at W:206-650-9076, cell: 206-935-7200, vandergriff@windermere.com