Good Neighbor Award Winners Announced

""REALTOR Magazine"":realtormag.realtor.org/ has announced this year's winners of the publication's ""Good Neighbor Awards"":http://realtormag.realtor.org/good-neighbor-awards/article/2011/11/2011-good-neighbor-winners-announced program, targeting Realtors whose commitment to community development sets them apart. Annually, REALTOR honors five individuals for their volunteer work and achievements in community improvement, and the magazine's elite list focuses on those in the real estate industry who stand out as key leaders in all aspects of their lives, both personal and professional.

[IMAGE]

The 2011 Good Neighbor Awards recipients include ""Edina Realty's"":www.edinarealty.com/ LeRoy J. Bendickson for his commitment to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Minnesota; ""Alain Pinel Realtors"":www.apr.com/' Marta Karpiel for her work with Freedom Fields USA; ""Vito Anthony Homes"":www.vitoanthony.com/' Vito. A Pampalona for his efforts on behalf of the Yellow Ribbon Fund; ""Wright Kingdom's"":www.wkre.com/ Judy Pitt for her service to Kazi Yake; and ""Shaffer and Associates"":wshaffer.com/' Wayne J. Shaffer for his support of St. Francis Catholic Kitchen, Siena House Maternity Home, and Jesus Mary Joseph Home.

The president of the ""National Association of Realtors"":www.realtor.org/, Ron Phipps, said of the annual list, ""The realtors acknowledged through the Good Neighbor Awards program have graciously sacrificed personal time, money and effort to help improve the quality of life for others. Despite tough economic times these five winners have remained devoted to helping others whether in their own neighborhood or across the globe. I am proud to help them grow their efforts so they can continue the good work they do.""

Phipps, broker and president for Rhode Island-based Phipps Realty, has previously been honored among recipients of the Good Neighbor Awards for his work with the Tomorrow Fund. Created in 2000, the program gives winners a $10,000 grant for the charity of their choice, as well as a $2,000 Lowe's gift card.

Bendickson earned his spot on this year's roster thanks to his avid participation in the ""National Multiple Sclerosis Society's""::www.nationalmssociety.org/ bike race to raise money for the organization; during 2011,

[COLUMN_BREAK]

Bendickson's ""Real Estate Riders"" included 250 bikers, for a total donation of $146,000, and since he began coordinating his statewide team, Bendickson's efforts have added up to nearly $1 million in support for the philanthropy.

""Freedom Fields USA"":www.ffusa.org/ has a new fundraising tool thanks to Karpiel's commitment to the group; she developed an initiative that lets donors select a precise, mapped location where they'd like to see their money used to eliminate landmines within Cambodia's borders. Freedom Fields USA believes that Karpiel's map tool has accounted for more than $250,000 in funding, and additionally, she was active in helping the organization snag a $50,000 grant from the U.S. State Department.

Vietnam veteran Pampalona gives back at the ""Walter Reed Army Medical Center"":www.wramc.amedd.army.mil, where he created a multimedia center for patients and their families that provides books, videos, audio tapes, and snacks. Working with the ""Yellow Ribbon Fund"":www.yellowribbonfund.com/ since 2003, Pampalona has raised or donated around $500,000 to support veterans in need, and he is the national chair of the Yellow Ribbon Fund Ambassador program.

""Kazi Yake"":https://sites.google.com/a/kaziyake.org/www/, which means His Works when translated, was founded by Pitt in 2008 to facilitate the advancement of clean water and hygiene initiatives for Kenya. Her passion grew out of years of mission trips to the country, and Pitt now leads teams of volunteers in Kenya twice a year, installing water filters, training midwives, and teaching farmers enhanced crop yield measures. Pitt is also working toward building a medical clinic, and she plans to move to Kenya permanently to continue her efforts full time.

Serving the disadvantaged in Santa Cruz, California, Shaffer is the co-founder and president of ""St. Francis Catholic Kitchen"":www.stfrancissoupkitchen.org/, and he is also responsible for co-founding ""Jesus Mary Joseph Home"":http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jesus-Mary-Joseph-Home/139950827506?sk=wall, as well as being the sole founder for ""Siena House Maternity Home"":www.sienahouse.org/. Shaffer's philanthropic pursuits provide shelter, emergency medical care, housing, and food for the homeless and others in need.

Five relators were named among Good Neighbor Award honorable mentions, including ""Coldwell Banker Riviera Real Estate's"":www.rivierarealty.com/ Robin Bahr for her commitment to ""Patti's Prom Project"":www.facebook.com/pages/Pattis-Prom-Project.../357223938727; ""Marron Gildea Realtors"":www.marron-gildea.com/' Elizabeth Fernandez for her work for ""Glen Rock Poverty Awareness Project"":www.causes.com/causes/237534-glen-rock-poverty-awareness-project; ""CMK and Associates"":cmkandassociates.com/' Chrisitan C. Klueg for his efforts for The Pink Chicken; ""Star One Realtors"":www.starone.com/' Mark Meinhardt for his service to ""Sophie's Angel Run"":www.sophiesangelrun.org/; and ""Reecer Properties"":www.reecerproperties.com/' Lynn H. Reecer for her support of ""Aboite New Trails"":www.aboitenewtrails.com/ant/events/. Each honorable mention award winner will receive $2,500 grants for their philanthropic organizations, as well as a $1,000 Lowe's gift card.