SPRINGFIELD (September 19, 2005) - Capital Area REALTORS® have rallied to help families devastated by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. The Capital Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) announced that it will make a contribution of $5,000 to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The donation from Capital Area REALTORS® joins the $100,000 pledged by the Illinois Association of REALTORS and the $2,150,000 million pledged by the NAR to fund the emergency relief efforts underway by the Mississippi Association of REALTORS®, Louisiana Association of REALTORS® and Alabama Association of REALTORS®.

"Capital Area REALTORS® share in the sorrow of the residents of the Gulf Coast as we grieve for the dead and the search continues for loved ones. It pains us to see so many of our fellow citizens, many of which include REALTORS®, left homeless,” said CAAR President Gail Chevalier Zini, ABR, CRS, GRI. "Capital Area REALTORS® are eager to help their colleagues in the South who are engaged in this massive relief effort and who are experts in finding housing for these families.”

REALTOR® Association members and the public can donate to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation. Contributions can be made online at REALTOR.org's secure site: https://www.realtor.org/relief

To contribute by mail, checks should be made payable to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation, Attn: NAR Finance Division, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601.

Contributions to REALTORS® Relief Foundation are tax deductible. All administrative costs of the project will be absorbed by the National Association of REALTORS® so that all money raised will go directly to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

REALTORS® and the general public who want to provide temporary housing for hurricane victims are asked to go to the Web sites of the Louisiana Association of REALTORS® (http://www.larealtors.org/) and Mississippi Association of REALTORS® (http://www.msrealtors.org/). These organizations are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as well as private sector REALTORS® and others to identify temporary housing for the many displaced citizens.