FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Realtor® Rita Bender Receives
2005 Community Service Award

December 1, 2005 - West Babylon, NY - “An honor,” is often used to describe how the recipient of an award feels about being recognized. However, in this instance, the honor is truly felt by The Long Island Board of Realtors (LIBOR) as the 26,000 member, not for profit trade association recognized Realtor® Rita Bender as the recipient of this year’s Community Service Award.

Rita joined LIBOR in 1986 and is a sales agent with Coldwell Banker Residential in Huntington. She has been active in the Huntington area for 19 years.

On the Chapter level, she has been serving on the Huntington Township Board of Directors since 1994 and held the position of Chapter Secretary in 2000. She is also the proud recipient of the 2004 LIBOR Distinguished Service Award for the Huntington Chapter.

She organized & chaired Habitat for Humanity home on East 4th Street in Huntington Station and also chaired the fundraiser dinner at the Elks Club to benefit Habitat for Humanity. She has also organized & chaired the fashion show featuring Fashions by Saks Fifth Avenue at Oheka Castle to benefit Huntington Hospital.

Rita is an active member of House Beautiful Civic Association, Talisman Civic Association and 2002 honoree of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Huntington Breast Cancer Chapter; she is founding president of Suburban League City of Hope and Chairman of LI Coalition for City of Hope. She raised $140,000 for the Huntington Breast Cancer Coalition and was the honoree recognized at their testimonial dinner. She has received acclamations for community service from Bob Gaffney, Rick Lazio, Tom Gulotta and Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone.

She organized & chaired ”Keeping Abreast in the Kitchen” project - a cookbook which sold over 3,000 copies to benefit the Huntington Breast Cancer Coalition. LIBOR is honored to recognize Rita for her time & energy spent on these charitable endeavors that have helped improve so many in her community.

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Press Release Contact:
Tricia Chirco
Marketing & Communication Director
631-661-4800 Ext. 345

The Long Island Board of REALTORS® is a non-profit trade association consisting of more than 23,500 professional Realtors. For more information about LIBOR, or to locate a Realtor in your area, visit our web site at: www.mlsli.com.