Invest in Others Charitable Foundation Donates $30,000 to Pine Street Inn Through Second Annual 5K Run/Walk in Boston

BOSTON, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation, Inc., a public charity that supports the philanthropic and volunteer efforts of financial advisors across the country, today announced it has contributed $30,000 to Pine Street Inn through its Second Annual 5K Run/Walk event in Boston on Wednesday, July 28, 2010.  Founded and based in Boston, Pine Street Inn is a charity committed to ending homelessness in the organization's home town.  The donation will be directed towards Pine Street Inn's new Hartford Street Project, a 16-unit supportive housing program for homeless U.S. veterans that Pine Street Inn is preparing to open in the fall of 2010.

Following the Run/Walk, Invest in Others also awarded the top three male and female financial advisor finishers with a generous donation to the charity of their choice.  This year's honorees included:

• Andrew Prentice of Bliss Investments in Olympia, WA; first place male financial advisor; benefiting Friends of FSH Research
• Sybil Praski of Abacus FG LLC in Denver, CO; first place female financial advisor; benefiting The National Skiing Center for the Disabled
• Chad Zitzelsberger of Total Investment Planners, Inc. in Mt. Pleasant, MI; second place male financial advisor; benefiting Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation
• Andrea Gritis of LPL Financial in Lisle, IL; second place female financial advisor; benefiting DetermiNation
• Jay Shiel of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Boston, MA; third place male financial advisor; benefiting Back on My Feet
• Sonja Koppenwallner of Legacy Wealth Management in Plantation, FL; third place female financial advisor; benefiting Huntington's Disease Society of America

"Invest in Others was delighted to team up with financial advisors from across the country to host our Second Annual 5K Run/Walk in Boston," said Kandis Bates, president of the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation.  "Financial advisors make a profound difference in the lives of disadvantaged people in their communities every day and we are pleased that they could share their charitable spirit with those less fortunate in Boston.  We look forward to hosting this event next year, and we are excited about supporting Pine Street Inn with additional resources to help homeless veterans.

"In addition, we are very grateful for the generous support we've received from so many financial services firms, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and from the greater Boston community, whose contributions and participation made this important event possible," she said.

"Pine Street Inn is honored to be selected as the recipient of funds raised through the Invest in Others 5K Run/Walk," said Lyndia Downie, president of Pine Street Inn.  "These funds will be used for the renovation of a home for homeless veterans, creating much-needed housing for those who have served our country.  It is because of the generosity of groups like this that we can continue to provide vital housing and support services to men and women in need."

Sponsors of the Invest in Others 5K Run/Walk included: Healthcare Trust of America, Inc.; LPL Financial; Allianz Life Financial Services; Behringer Harvard; Eaton Vance; New York Life/Mainstay Investments; Prudential; UnitedHealth Group; AXA Distributors; Cole Real Estate Investments; Columbia Management; Dreyfus; ING Financial Solutions; Invesco; InvestmentNews; Ivy Funds; Lincoln Financial Distributors; NATIXIS Global Associates; Neuberger Berman; Pax World Management, LLC; Protective; Rydex | SGI; Steben & Company, Inc.; Sun Life Financial and Van Eck Global.

About Invest in Others

Established in 2006 through the vision of LPL Financial, the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation is a registered 501 (c)(3) charity founded with the mission of encouraging and supporting the philanthropic and volunteer activities of financial advisors in their local communities.  The Invest in Others mission is achieved through a community-based approach to philanthropy that seeks to strengthen neighborhoods from within by empowering those who are committed to serving others in their professional and personal lives.  As mentors, volunteers, fundraisers and leaders, financial professionals lend their unique skills and perspectives to the challenges and opportunities facing their neighbors.  Invest in Others is proud to support and promote these efforts to better our world one community at a time.  For more information, visit http://www.investinothers.org/.

About Pine Street Inn

Founded in 1969, Pine Street is the largest provider of permanent housing, emergency shelter, job training and street outreach for homeless men and women in New England.  Pine Street Inn welcomes more than 1,300 homeless individuals daily providing tools to begin the journey out of homelessness and on to permanent housing. Our vision is to help individuals gain stability and their highest level of independence by offering a wide range of services for every person who turns to Pine Street for help.  For more information, visit http://www.pinestreetinn.org.

SOURCE Invest in Others Charitable Foundation, Inc.