Within a week of the National Association of Realtors® launching a drive to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina, which swept through the United States Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, the Realtors® Relief Foundation has received 4,774 donations totaling $950,125. That brings the total collections to $2,100,125, including NAR’s $1.15 million seed donation.
NAR officially launched the drive on Tuesday, a day after the hurricane devastated cities in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, with an initital seed donation of $150,000. Within a day, NAR leadership approved the donation of an additional $1 million toward hurricane relief efforts in the three states. Casualties are estimated in the thousands, and millions are believed to be displaced from their homes. At least 9,000 Realtors® have been affected, according to NAR estimates.
All contributions made to the Realtors® Relief Foundation will go to disaster relief in the three states and NAR will absorb all administrative costs of the project. Contributions are tax deductible and can be made on a secure Realtors® Relief Foundation Web Site. To donate by mail, send a check, payable to the Realtors® Relief Foundation, to Realtors® Relief Foundation, Attn: NAR Finance Division, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611.