October 11, 2007

Golf tourney, walk to raise money to fight disease

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage tees off against children’s Gaucher disease

More than 120 South Bay Realtors®, mortgage brokers and other real estate professionals took a break from selling homes recently to play golf – but it was for a cause more important than lowering their handicap.

The group took part in the 11th annual Gregory Austin Macres Memorial Golf Tour-nament at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club in San Jose benefiting the Children’s Gaucher Research Fund.

Hosted by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Silicon Valley ’s largest real estate company, the event raised more than $20,000 to support research aimed at finding a cure for children’s Gaucher disease, a pediatric progressive debilitating genetic disease that causes a variety of systemic and neurological medical complications.
Participants paid $199 per person to play in the tourney and enjoy lunch and dinner afterward. Golfers also took part in a raffle and silent auction, which helped raise the day’s fund-raising total.

“We were thrilled that so many people took the time out of their busy schedule to help us raise money to combat this terrible disease,” said Joe Brown, one of the golfers and president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay Area. “The community has blessed Coldwell Banker as a business and it is extremely important that we give back to the community and to those less fortunate who need our help. I’m very proud that we were able to do that.”

Among the items raffled off or sold during the auction were an iPod Nano, a stay at the Palace Hotel, a Commodore Yacht experience, a Gloria Ferrer VIP tour and tasting, restaurant gift certificates, movie passes and even two dinners personally served by Brown himself.

The children’s Gaucher disease fund-raising event is just the latest of a series of fund-raisers by Coldwell Banker Residen-tial Brokerage. Last year, the company raised nearly $400,000 for a variety of nonprofit community organizations, led by Habitat for Humanity, the group that helps low-income families build their own homes.

For more information on the Children’s Gaucher Research Fund, visit www.childrensgaucher.org. For more information about supporting upcoming Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fund-raising events, call (925) 275-3085.

About Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the largest residential real estate brokerage in Northern California, serves the markets of Sacramento/Tahoe, San Francisco/Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area, and Silicon Valley/Monterey Bay. The company has 66 office locations and more than 4,300 sales associates throughout northern California. Through its internationally renowned Coldwell Banker Previews® program, the company is widely recognized for its expertise in the luxury housing market. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT has more 1,000 offices and 61,000 sales associates operating in more than 35 major metropolitan areas. A subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, NRT operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information please visit www.CaliforniaMoves.com or call 925.275.3085.

Every step makes cure for breast cancer closer

Join hundreds in taking steps to find a cure for breast cancer this year in San Francisco. The devastating disease will be diagnosed in 19,790 women in California this year.

The hundreds of breast cancer survivors and their families and friends will walk this Saturday, Oct. 13, at City of Hope’s annual Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer. The 5K walk will be held at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. Walk for Hope raises funds for City of Hope, a leader in research and treatment to prevent, combat and ultimately cure breast cancer.

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K walk at 9 a.m. The day will feature a dedication wall, sponsor booths with giveaways, a team pavilion, a survivor booth, a kids' pavilion and more. To register, donate or volunteer, visit www.walk4hope.org . All adults who raise or donate a minimum of $150 will receive an official long-sleeve Walk for Hope T-shirt.

“Funds raised through Walk for Hope events are critical,” said George Somlo, MD, FACP, co-director of City of Hope’s breast cancer program. “Our scientists are involved in a number of studies and clinical trials that are helping to redefine the standards of care and accelerate the search for a cure. The steps our Walk for Hope participants take make this progress possible.”

The 2007 Walk for Hope national top fund-raiser, national top team captain fund-raiser and national top online fund-raiser will win an all-inclusive five-day/four night Caribbean vacation for two to a Sandals or Beaches Resort, courtesy of National Prize Sponsor Sandals /Beaches. The top individual fund-raiser and the top team captain at each Walk location will receive a two-night stay at any participating Hilton Family hotel in the 48 continental United States, courtesy of Hilton HHonors®.

Held in cities across the country, Walk for Hope events have raised more than $20 million for breast cancer research, treatment and education programs at City of Hope since its inception more than 12 years ago. This year’s Walk for Hope is nationally sponsored by Wells Fargo, Post-it® Super Sticky, Hilton HHonors, Wella, Sebastian and Graham Webb, Good House-keeping and Sandals/Beaches. The San Francisco event is locally supported by Target, Unilever Ice Cream, Sutter Home, Del Monte and See’s Candies.

About City of Hope
City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of America’s Best Hospitals in cancer and urology by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org.