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ERA Franchise Systems LLC 1 Campus Drive Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 428-9700 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Media contact: Steven Alessandrini (973) 496-7904 steven.alessandrini@era.com |
PARSIPPANY, NJ, August 31, 2004 – ERA Real Estate will once again proudly participate in efforts to benefit individuals with neuromuscular diseases during the 2004 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. ERA Real Estate, which celebrates its 27th consecutive appearance on the telethon, will present the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) with a check for $585,000 on behalf of the entire network of ERA® brokers and sales associates.
P.J. Martin Smith, senior vice president of marketing for ERA Real Estate, who also serves as an MDA national vice president, will present the donation to host Jerry Lewis. James Grandon, Jr., president of Jack Gaughen Realtor ERA in Camp Hill, Pa., will appear with Martin Smith. Jack Gaughen Realtor ERA was the winner of this year's Ed Bilinkas Memorial Award given by ERA Real Estate to its affiliate company that collected the most funds for MDA. Jack Gaughen Realtor ERA raised nearly $33,000.
"ERA is extremely proud of the ongoing commitment to MDA displayed by our network of affiliates," said Martin Smith. "All the members of the ERA family have once again gone above and beyond to support the great accomplishments of MDA, and we are more determined than ever to help make a real difference in the lives of those affected by neuromuscular diseases."
As part of its overall efforts on behalf of MDA, ERA Real Estate once again conducted its annual "A Day in May for MDA" campaign, a coast-to-coast fundraising event held throughout the month of May. ERA brokerages and sales associates each select one day in May to raise funds for MDA. Affiliates hosted all manner of events – from walk-a-thons and bowl-a-thons to black-tie galas, silent auctions, golf tournaments, bake sales, garage sales and dinner theater shows to benefit the Charity.
ERA Real Estate began its partnership with MDA in the battle against neuromuscular diseases in 1977. It is the sole corporate sponsor of MDA from the real estate industry and has consistently been among the top contributors to the organization each year. Since 1977, ERA affiliates and corporate staff have raised more than $30 million to fund research and provide services to help more than one million Americans affected by muscular dystrophy.
This year's telethon will be held in Hollywood, Calif., Sept. 5 through Sept. 6. The 21-and-a-half hour program is broadcast by more than 200 television stations to 75 million viewers in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.
About ERA Franchise Systems LLC
ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with more than 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. It is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) and part of its Real Estate Franchise Group. The ERA real estate network includes more than 30,600 brokers and sales associates throughout the United States and 30 other countries and territories. Each office is independently owned and operated except offices owned and operated by NRT Incorporated. ERA information is available to consumers at ERA.com. ERA properties can also be viewed at Realtor.com. For additional information about ERA Franchise Systems LLC, as well as expert commentary on emerging trends in the real estate industry, visit the Cendant Media Resource Center at http://www.cendant.com/media/.
