Realtor(R) Award Finalists Volunteer to Make a Difference

CHICAGO, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Realtors(R) across the country are making extraordinary commitments to improve the quality of life in their communities.

The National Association of Realtors(R) today announced 10 such individuals as finalists for REALTOR(R) Magazine's 2008 Good Neighbor Awards.The Good Neighbor Awards program, now in its ninth year, recognizes Realtors(R) who generously volunteer their time to help others.

These Realtors(R) often donate countless hours and dollars to organizations that help those in need and make their community a better place to live.In October, five winners will be selected from among the 10 finalists and will receive travel expenses to the 2008 REALTORS(R) Conference & Expo in Orlando in November, national media exposure for their community cause, and a $10,000 grant for their charity.

In addition to the winners, five honorable mentions will receive a $2,500 grant. The winners will be announced in the November issue of REALTOR(R) Magazine.

"The Good Neighbor Awards is our way of thanking our most outstanding Realtor(R) volunteers, who are not only making a difference in the lives of many, but also are helping build stronger, healthier communities," said NAR President Dick Gaylord,(top right photo) a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists, Long Beach, Calif.

"We are extremely proud to recognize these finalists and are truly inspired by their enthusiasm and commitment to giving back to the communities in which they live and work.

The Realtor(R) Good Neighbor Awards finalists are:

Mary E. Bacon, (photo at right, below Gaylord) Bob Parks Realty, LLC, Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Mt. Juliet Help Center

Lei Barry, ( left photo) Keller Williams Real Estate, Blue Bell, Penn., Inter-Faith Housing Alliance

H. Burton Foster, (middle right photo, under Bacon) Century 21 Gold Standard, East Aurora, N.Y., Matthew Foster Foundation

Scott (lower right photo, underneath Foster) and Robin Gwaltney,(lower left photo) Coldwell Banker at Your Service Realty, Ltd., Rochester, Minn., Rochester Better Chance

Reita Hutson, John Hall and Associates, Scottsdale, Ariz., Gabriel's Dream, Inc.

Victor Kee, Pete Anderson Realty, Inc., Astoria, Ore., Sunday Supper and Sunday Meals on Wheels

Caroline McCartney, GSH Real Estate Corp., Norfolk, Va., St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

John Neibarger, Key Properties, Realtors(R), Johnstown, Ohio, Mary E. Babcock Library, Inc.

David Pap, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Cambridge, Mass., Cambridge Housing Assistance Fund

Sheila Stevens, Prudential Georgia Realty, Suwanee, Ga., The Sport of Giving Inc

For a complete detailed copy of NAR's release, please contact Sara Geimer, +1-312-329-8296, or Sara Weis, +1-202-383-1013, both of the National Association of Realtors.