Realtors help 343 victims? families

According to a news release from the National Association of Realtors, the number of families helped by the Realtors Housing Relief Fund has now increased to 343, and applications continue to be received and processed daily.

The total paid to the 343 families of victims killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has now reached $2,690,000. In addition, at least 200 more applications are in the process of being paid.

The fund, which was established by the NAR the day following the attacks, has received $5.9 million to date in donations. Nearly $2 million in additional contributions have been pledged by Realtor organizations, companies and individual Realtors.

Eligible for assistance are immediate families or households of deceased or missing victims of the attacks, including those in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, passengers and airline em-ployees on the four airliners, including the airplane that crashed in Pennsyl-vania, and emergency, fire and police personnel.

Recipients must be U.S. citizens or legally admitted U.S. residents. Funds are being distributed through state Realtor associations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. NAR and participating state associations are processing applications as quickly as possible in order to provide im-mediate relief to families in need.

"I am very proud to say that Realtors were one of the very first to respond and the response has been truly magnificent. We are doing our very best to meet our pledge to the President and the nation that no victim's family will lose the place they call home," said NAR President Richard Mendenhall.

Victims' families in need of assistance can apply by accessing an online application form at relief.realtor.org.

Realtors and others interested in contributing to the fund can do so by visiting the same fund Web site, or by otherwise contacting the National Association of Realtors.

All contributions to the fund are tax deductible.

The National Association of Realtors is America's largest trade association, representing more than 760,000 members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.