Daily Real Estate News  |  September 16, 2005  |   Real Estate Industry Gives Nearly $8M for Hurricane Relief REALTORSŪ and their industry collectively have donated almost $8 million toward relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims in the less than three weeks since the natural disaster struck the Gulf Coast, in addition to the industry's donations of goods and services and countless hours of aiding in temporary housing efforts. Of the $8 million, $3.6 million is from direct contributions to the REALTORSŪ Relief Foundation, administered by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORSŪ. State and local REALTORŪ associations and MLSs have contributed an estimated $1.7 million, some to RRF; some directly to the three state REALTORŪ associations in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi; and some to other aid groups, such as the American Red Cross. Millions more are coming from the large real estate companies, who've announced donations to a variety of relief organizations, including the American Red Cross and the United Way. Some companies, like RE/MAX International and Ebby Halliday, REALTORSŪ, have asked their sales associates and employees to donate directly to the charities of choice. The total monetary contributions from the REALTORŪ family is expected to continue to climb in the coming weeks as individual REALTORSŪ, REALTORŪ associations, and real estate companies continue their fund-raising drives and make additional donations. In addition to donating money, REALTORSŪ are providing assistance in a number of other ways. They have been especially instrumental in efforts to provide temporary housing to displaced victims of the hurricane. In addition to individual efforts to find vacant listings, warehouse space, and any other structures that can serve as temporary housing in the weeks following the hurricane, two Louisiana REALTORSŪ launched HurricaneHousing.net, which is now serving as the federal government's central clearinghouse for information about available housing for hurricane victims. A number of real estate companies also said that their parent companies were making substantial donations to hurricane relief. For example, Prudential Real Estate Affiliates’ parent company, Prudential Financial, said the company and its employees would contribute more than $5 million to charitable organizations; GMAC Real Estate’s parent company, General Motors, has increased its total pledge to the American Red Cross to at least $1 million, which includes an immediate cash donation from the GM Foundation and GMAC, employee donations, and GM Foundation matching funds; Cendant Corp., parent company of the Coldwell Banker, Century 21, and ERA real estate franchise companies, is matching up to $500,000 in American Red Cross contributions from brokers and sales associates in the three brands. If one thing is apparent in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it's that those funds are desperately needed. The latest estimate from the American Red Cross shows that approximately 275,000 homes were destroyed in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama—nearly 10 times as many as in any previous natural disaster in U.S. history. The Red Cross also estimates that there are nearly 1 million victims of Hurricane Katrina, and they need assistance with everything from food and clothing to temporary housing. The donations and the aid being provided by REALTORSŪ across the country are starting to reach those most in need. In a posting earlier this week on REALTOR.org’s Hurricane Katrina Discussion Board, Pam Beard, president-elect of the Mississippi Association of REALTORSŪ, wrote: “Thanks so much for all the relief efforts from REALTORSŪ across the country. We have been receiving e-mails, donations, volunteer assistance, ideas, and much-needed advice since the day after the hurricane, and words can't express how important this family has been. President Al Mansell personally brought us our first relief check this week and we have already started the process of sending relief checks to REALTORSŪ and other victims in the Gulf Coast region. … Thanks to NAR leadership and staff, to each of the state associations, to individual REALTORSŪ, to all of you for doing what you can, but above all for caring.” If you haven’t already, you can still make a donation to help Hurricane Katrina victims. Contributions are tax deductible and can be made on the secure REALTORSŪ Relief Foundation Web Site. To donate by mail, send a check, payable to the REALTORSŪ Relief Foundation, to REALTORSŪ Relief Foundation, Attn: NAR Finance Division, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611. Read More on REALTORŪ Response For more information on how REALTORSŪ can help, visit the Hurricane Katrina Relief page at REALTOR.org. —Haley M. Hwang for REALTORŪ Magazine Online