Area REALTORS^® Will Participate in Prudential’s Global Volunteer Day on October 1^st

Kalamazoo, Mich. (September 26, 2005) – Prudential Preferred, REALTORS^® recently announced the creation of the Prudential Preferred, REALTORS^® Foundation (PPRF). The Foundation’s mission is to enhance the communities within the company’s service area through volunteering and charitable giving. The focus of its efforts will be on housing and community-related causes.

On Saturday, October 1^st, the PPRF will participate in Prudential’s Global Volunteer Day at various locations throughout greater Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan. These locations include the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, at which PPRF members will be painting and cleaning. In addition, there will be PPRF members participating in similar activities at the Housing Resources family shelter. Within the Battle Creek area, PPRF members will be assisting the Battle Creek Food Bank and Charitable Union with their hurricane relief efforts.

The PPRF formally established its charitable fund with a $5,000 check donated by Steve Fase, the owner of Prudential Preferred, REALTORS^®, which opened an account with the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. According to PPRF chairperson, Susan Pyke, “This fund will receive donations from agents and staff throughout our company, which will benefit all of our service areas.” Because it is an endowed fund, accrued interest will be distributed to various charitable organizations, while the principal will remain untouched. The Kalamazoo Community Foundation will be acting as the fund manager, and it will work closely with other community foundations in Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and Three Rivers to distribute resources.

Greater community involvement is especially important for the real estate industry, and foundations such as the PPRF have been in existence for many years. According to Ms. Pyke, “We’ve seen foundations such as ours start from little more than an idea and grow into very generous community members. Our aim is to benefit our fellow citizens in a meaningful way, and there is every reason to believe that together we can achieve this goal. In light of Hurricane Katrina, we feel especially compelled to lend a hand to those in need.”

Anyone interested in the Prudential Preferred, REALTORS^® Foundation can find out more at: www.pprmi.com/extra3.htm. Currently, the PPRF is accepting applications for volunteer projects for 2006.

Prudential Preferred, REALTORS^® is one of West Michigan’s largest real estate companies and ranks among the nation’s 150 most productive real estate firms. Its team of over 325 highly skilled real estate agents is assisted by administrative assistants, accountants, marketing specialists, and relocation professionals. The company operates 12 offices, and its service area includes all 18 West Michigan counties.