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For Immediate Release: NEW JERSEY REALTORS® VISIT GULF COAST TO HELP REBUILD NEW ORLEANSMembers of the New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR®) restore destruction from Hurricane KatrinaEDISON, N.J. - Members from the New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR®) participated in a wide range of volunteer activities to help rebuild the Gulf Coast during the 2006 REALTORS® Conference & Expo, presented by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), in New Orleans, November 10-13. NJAR® volunteers were among more than 2,000 REALTORS® from across the country that traveled to New Orleans to attend the convention and to help rebuild the Crescent City. Volunteers put in more than 8,360 hours throughout the week on activities ranging from building and rehabilitating homes, to sorting food and restocking bookshelves at the public library. "Being in the business of buying and selling real estate, our members are very passionate about the prosperity of communities across the country," said NJAR® President Bonnie Fitzgerald, who was among the volunteers. "It's an honor to be a part of rebuilding New Orleans with thousands of other REALTORS® who care about this great city as much as we do." The efforts to rebuild began with the dedication of an NAR-Habitat for Humanity House and building Habitat homes in the Musician Village, a community conceived by New Orleans native musicians Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis for displaced New Orleans musicians and families. Throughout the week, volunteers assembled in City Park, one of the nation's largest urban parks, and home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, to prune trees and shoreline grasses, clear weeds and debris, plant trees, and hang holiday lights and decorations for the Celebration in the Oaks holiday display in the Botanical Garden. REALTORS® partnered with nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together, to complete residential renovations and a neighborhood cleanup in the historic St. Roch community. They cleaned, painted, and refurbished cafeterias, theatres and classrooms at area schools, sorted books and participated at the Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans food bank. "Participating in the Rebuilding Together project was the highlight of my trip," Fitzgerald added. "St. Roch was home to more than 12,000 residents before Katrina, and was known for its historical landmarks and rich culture. I am looking forward to coming back to see how our efforts have contributed to restoring this wonderful community." In addition to contributing to efforts in New Orleans, NJAR® members have been involved locally in the construction of two 'homes in a box' for the Gulf Coast as part of a partnership with Habitat for Humanity known as "Operation Home Delivery." The first build took place in October in Stroudsburg, Pa., and the second on November 17 and 18 in York, Pa. The completed homes will be transported to St. Tammy parish in Louisiana. For more information, please contact Danielle Wyckoff at (732) 494-4730 or dwyckoff@njar.com. The New Jersey Association of REALTORS® is a non-profit organization serving the professional needs of approximately 57,000 REALTOR® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® members in the state. REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who subscribe to the REALTOR® organization's strict Code of Ethics and are members of the national, state, and local REALTOR® organizations. For more information, please visit www.njar.com. ###
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