National Association of Realtors President Richard Mendenhall and President-elect Martin Edwards, Jr. sent an e-mail to 370,000 Realtors asking for contributions to the NAR's mortgage relief fund for the New York City disaster victims' families. They didn't have to wait long for a response.

"We heard immediately from some state associations and real estate companies," says NAR spokesperson Steve Cook. "As of 5 o'clock yesterday, we received $9,000 and had collected about $30,200 by phone and those were just credit card contributions."

And that was before the fund was set up to receive online donations. "That number should go into the hundreds of thousands of dollars," says Cook. "We expect a tremendous response from that."

The NAR has already announced a pledge of its own for $1 million, and hopes that the Realtor community will match or exceed that number.

"Dear Fellow REALTOR:

Like us, I'm sure that you were shocked, angered and saddened at the terrorist tragedies that hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon Tuesday.

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.

No doubt many of the families of yesterday's victims own homes and may lack insurance or other means to meet their coming mortgage payments. Other victims' families who rent may not be able to meet future rental costs without help.

Let us resolve that NO FAMILY suffering from yesterday's tragedies will be forced to lose the place they CALL HOME.

NAR yesterday established the REALTORS Housing Relief Fund to raise money to assist victims' families in need to have the necessary assistance to meet their housing costs.

NAR has opened the Fund with an initial commitment of one million dollars. We are asking state and local associations and boards to contribute what they can.

As an individual REALTOR, YOU CAN HELP AS WELL. The REALTORS Housing Relief Fund is one way that Americans nationwide, most especially REALTORS -- can contribute directly to help those in greatest need.

EVERY PENNY of your personal donation will go directly to assist a family in real need. Your contributions also will be tax deductible.

We ask you as REALTORS to open your heart. Do not waiver but rather take a stand against this attack on our national security and most importantly make a positive difference in the lives of these innocence victims.

Information on the REALTORS Housing Relief Fund is available on www.OneRealtorPlace.com or by calling 1-800-874-6500.

Please join us in showing how REALTORS nationwide make a difference by helping our fellow Americans in this time of national tragedy.

In addition, we encourage every REALTOR in America to display the American Flag in response to our collective resolve.

Sincerely,

Richard Mendenhall

President

Martin Edwards, Jr.

President Elect"

Published: September 14, 2001

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.