Florida Realtors® Donates $50K to U.S. Military

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Realtors® recently collected $50,000 for U.S. active duty soldiers, awarding the money to the USO (United Service Organizations), which will buy phone cards that troops will use to call loved ones from Afghanistan, Iraq, hospitals and other locations across the globe.

"It's a magnificent gesture to show our military how much Realtors value their dedication and service," says Vernon Taylor, president of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors, who along with Suzanne Sherer, Florida Realtors District 5 vice president, spearheaded the fund-raising campaign for the state association. "However, it pales in comparison to the work our military men and women do every day."

Florida Realtors rolled out its "Show Our Troops We Care" program on May 25, 2010, and raised the $50,000 in under three months. While many Realtors and Floridians donated online through a dedicated website hosted by the USO, a number of major donations came from local associations within Florida.

"I'm extremely proud of the dedication and patriotism displayed by Florida's Realtor family," says 2010 Florida Realtors President Wendell Davis, a broker with Watson Realty Corp. in Jacksonville. "We're in the business of putting people into homes – of helping everyday families realize the American Dream. Our troops are often far from that home, but we can help them spend a few precious minutes with their family."

The USO will imprint new phone cards with the Florida Realtors logo and distribute them to U.S. troops. While the official program has ended, donations are still being accepted from anyone who wants to support our military men and women. For more information and to donate by credit card, visit floridarealtors.org at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/Support-our-Troops.cfm

Florida Realtors®, formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors®, serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 115,000 members in 67 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.

SOURCE Florida Realtors