FROM THE CEO’S DESK
Stronger Together
T
he magnitude of the destruction left by Tropical Storm
This is all thanks to the Realtors® Relief Foundation, which
Ida had not been seen in New Jersey since Superstorm
is also commemorating its 20th anniversary this year. The
Sandy in 2012. Tropical Storm Ida left Route 1 in Lawrence
foundation began with the goal to help families remain in
completely underwater, destroyed homes in Mullica Hill from
their homes following the deadly 9/11 terrorist attacks. Since
tornados, flooded TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, left
then, the foundation has helped more than 17,000 families
commuter trains unusable, and became New Jersey’s deadliest
remain in their homes. Currently, the Realtors® Relief
storm to date.
Foundation is running a 20-year commemorative campaign, Hope Rising. Current NAR President and NJ Realtors® Past
In the wake of natural disasters, NJ Realtors® is there to help
President Charlie Oppler is spearheading this campaign with
support homeowners throughout the Garden State. The
his own call to action—Charlie’s Challenge. He’s calling on
day after Tropical Storm Ida wreaked havoc, the association
all Realtors® to donate to the foundation and to take the lead
sprang into action conducting safety calls to local boards/
before the need.
associations and disaster response team members to assess damage in their areas. A few days later, NJ Realtors® applied
I hope the disaster work the RRF has been doing in our own
for grant monies from the Realtors Relief Foundation, a
state encourages you to support the foundation. If you have
charitable organization dedicated to providing housing related
the means, I encourage you to donate towards the foundation’s
relief to those impacted by disasters. The application was
$8.5 million goal. Any amount helps. You can donate at
approved just days later.
nar.realtor/rrf.
®
As of Oct. 20, 471 NJ Tropical Storm Ida relief applications have been submitted and over $130,000 in grants has been distributed to help homeowners. Our disaster response team has been hard at work reviewing applications to see if they fit the requirements for mortgage assistance or temporary shelter.
NEW JERSEY REALTOR® | November/December 2021 | 7
