The Real Deal

Realtors try to help those hurt by tragedy

By Jean Newton

Extending a helping hand in response to the acts of terrorism in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, the National Association of Realtors established a Realtors Housing Relief Fund to help pay the mortgage and rental costs of the families devastated by the tragic events of Sept. 11.

National Association of Realtors President Richard Mendenhall urged Realtors nationwide to contribute to the fund. "The Realtors Housing Relief Fund is one way that Realtors nationwide can contribute directly to help those in greatest need," Mendenhall said.

The association made an initial contribution of $1 million dollars to open the fund. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the innocent victims of these terrible acts of terror and to the brave fire, law enforcement and emergency personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty," Mendenhall said.

Mendenhall noted that thousands of victims' families who own homes may lack mortgage insurance and might lose their homes without outside assistance. Other victim's families who rent may not be able to meet future rental costs without help. "Our hope is that none of the families of these victims, who are dealing with a tremendous emotional loss, will also have to suffer the trauma of losing their homes as a result of this terrorist attack," he said.

The California Association of Realtors responded by approving an initial donation of $25,000 to the fund to help victims of the disaster. California Association of Realtors President Gary Thomas said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with all the friends and families affected by this disaster."

Locally, the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors began collecting donations for the national fund at its annual golf fundraiser, where it raised more than $18,000 for its Charitable Foundation, which assists nonprofit organizations and provides student scholarships. The association will make a $10,000 donation to the Realtors Housing Relief Fund and will continue to collect individual contributions to forward to the fund.

"This is one way that we can actually do something positive to help others, especially when so many of us would like to help in some way but don't know what to do to respond to this tragedy," said Silicon Valley Association of Realtors President Jeff Barnett.

"Today I am asking Americans everywhere, especially members of our Realtor family, to open their hearts and take a stand against this attack on our national security," Mendenhall said. "Let's demonstrate our commitment to help those who have suffered most. No victim's family should find itself in the position of having to lose their home because of the loss they have suffered."

Realtors and others who would like to contribute can do so by calling the Realtors Housing Relief Fund at 800.874.6500 or mail contributions to Realtors Housing Relief Fund, c/o National Association of Realtors, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. Locally, donations can be made by making a check out to Realtors Housing Relief Fund and sending it to the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, 345 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022.

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Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silicon-valleyrealtors.org. Send questions on any topic to jnewton@jnpr.com.

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