FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - REALTORS RAISING THE WALLS ON MAY 16TH

May 2003, West Babylon, NY - For Realtors, providing home ownership opportunities comes naturally, but finding affordable homeownership opportunities can be challenging. In February 2003, the LIBOR Board of Directors approved the Huntington Chapter & LIBOR sponsorship of Habitat For Humanity house with a $30,000 commitment. It was noted during that the Elwood school district is also a sponsor having already raised its $30k for this purpose. A total commitment of $60,000 is needed to get a house built.

The project was officially launched by Kelly Taylor, Huntington Chapter President, during the April 2nd Huntington Chapter breakfast meeting held at the Huntington Town House. Over 135 Realtors attended. Kelly Taylor presented a check for $10,000 from the Huntington Chapter to Kathy Schaeffer, Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk County representative, as a show of the Realtors commitment to this cause.

“Members of the Huntington Chapter, together with LIBOR, wanted to work together on a project that would help improve our community,” explained Kelly Taylor. Taylor further states, “We believe it important to advance Realtor recognition and we saw Habitat for Humanity as the most appropriate partner in our efforts.”

The project officially gets under way on Friday, May 16th, when local Realtors join forces with the Habitat for Humanity organization and begin raising the walls on a home being built in Huntington Station. The house is located at 29 East 4th Street. The future homeowners, Sandra and Efrain Mora, together with their three boys, ages 5, 2, and 1, are very excited to start working on their home. They even attended the Chapter breakfast on April 2nd to personally express their thanks. Applicants for a Habitat for Humanity home must be willing to make a down payment of 270 hours of labor or "sweat equity" on Saturdays, and the selected families will receive an interest free mortgage of approximately $65,000. The Mora family of 5 currently resides in a one-bedroom apartment where they share a kitchen with other residents in the house.

For information on upcoming events contact Rita Bender at 631-673-6800 or Mary Fudens at 631-673-3295. If you want to make a donation, contact Kelly Taylor at 631-261-6834 ext 202. If you would like to volunteer, e-mail Cheryl Grossman at . For general information on this project or other Habitat for Humanity Projects, log onto www.hfhsuffolk.org.

The Multiple Listing Service of Long Island, Inc., (MLSLI) a subsidiary of the Long Island Board of REALTORS®, Inc.(LIBOR) is a computerized network of more than 2700 participating real estate offices. For more information about the MLS, and Long Island real estate, visit our web site at www.mlsli.com.

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.