Cathy Whatley, the association's president-elect, praised the four honorees for their volunteerism, initiative and willingness to make a difference in their communities and in the real estate business. Whatley also urged Realtor associations to initiate an affordable housing or housing opportunity program in their communities by June 2003.

The National Association of Realtors will unveil the new Housing Opportunity Program with the launch of a website in November. The new program is designed to create long-term initiatives to raise awareness about the current housing problem, and will include research and data gathering, coalition building, education, legislative and regulatory action and communications.

"I want Realtors to become known for helping to create healthy communities where all Americans, no matter what their income level, will find a full range of viable housing opportunities," said Whatley.

Whatley asked state and local Realtor associations to participate in the program by creating at least one affordable housing opportunity within their communities, either on their own or in coalition with other housing-related or community groups.

The local Silicon Valley Association of Realtors has been a longtime supporter of the Housing Industry Foundation, an organization that provides assistance to individuals or families faced with homelessness. The nonprofit group, which is comprised of members of the apartment, real estate and building industries, not only provides emergency housing assistance, but also supports efforts to identify long-term solutions to the lack of affordable housing in the community.

A major fundraiser called "Home for the Holidays" will be held in Saratoga at St. Michael's Church on Oct. 24 to benefit the Housing Industry Foundation.

As Whatley honored the "hometown heroes," she noted their courage in stepping up to the challenges that confront the real estate profession. The individuals were recognized for benefitting the real estate business and the communities where Realtors live and work.

The four honorees are Mary Hudson Glazer of RealLiving Inc., Independence, Ohio, a pacesetter in developing programs and training Realtors on the Fair Housing Law; Sandra Goldstein of Sandra Goldstein & Assoc. Inc., Key Biscayne, Fla., whose leadership on smart growth in the Miami area helped to bring about consensus on development in Dade County; Chris McElroy of The Group-Harmony, Fort Collins, Colo., who started a program that puts a face on affordable housing in the city and creates a model that Realtors can replicate in their communities; and Jackie Simon of Avery-Hess, Realtors, Gaithersburg, Md., who trains Realtors to serve people with disabilities under the fair housing laws.

Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org. Send questions on any topic to jnewton@jnpr.com.