ACSD’s founder, Ellen Kiss grew up in an entrepreneurial family. Her parents ran Kiss Country Kitchen in Geneva, Ohio. Ellen and her eight brothers and sisters all worked in the restaurant and all eleven family members lived in an 800 square foot house. They struggled to make ends meet. Ellen knows first hand what it’s like to not have everything you need. These early experiences were influential in her mission to help children rise up from poverty and succeed. Ellen likes to share the importance of positive thinking with the children. “I teach them to set goals and reach for the stars.”
Ellen has twenty years experience in residential real estate. In 2003, Ms. Kiss founded Kiss Properties, Inc. in Del Mar, California after working fifteen years as a multi-million dollar top producer representing buyers and sellers for Willis Allen, Dyson and Dyson, and Prudential California Realty.
After her real estate success, Ms. Kiss wanted to give back to her community by creating a non-profit organization that would support poverty stricken schools in San Diego. In 2005, Ms. Kiss formed Adopt-A-Classroom, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on school children from kindergarten to 5th grade. The programs are designed to provide children the resources to improve their health and grades. Adopt-A-Classroom has concentrated its efforts mostly on Euclid Elementary School in central San Diego. Ms. Kiss has been recognized for her efforts locally by Euclid Elementary School as honorary principal and nationally by the National Association of REALTORS® with the REALTORS® Magazine's Good Neighbor Award. She was also honored at the Tenth Annual 2009 Leadership Awards from KGTV Channel 10 San Diego.
