The Chicago Association of REALTORS® (CAR), the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®, the Champaign County Association of REALTORS® and Illinois REALTORS® showed their support for the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) during a live virtual event Friday called “Hope Rising.”

The event commemorated  the 20th Anniversary of the creation of RRF, which initially helped families of those killed by terrorists at the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and in Shanksville, Pa., Sept. 11, 2001. Since its creation, RRF has helped more than 17,000 families make mortgage payments or rent payments in the face of disaster. RRF has distributed $33 million in relief in a total of 108 disasters to date, including natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes and floods.

Illinois REALTORS® is donating $150,000 to RRF, Mainstreet is contributing $25,000, CAR is contributing $20,000 and the Champaign County has pledged $1,000.

Watch a recording of the event on Facebook.

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NAR President Charlie Oppler (left) paid tribute to NAR leaders who helped create the foundation 20 years ago. He later announced CAR’s $20K donation during the event. Interviewer Janelle Brevard (right) led a conversation with four of those leaders who recapped their experiences from Sept. 11, 2001.
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RRF 2021-22 President Mike Ford and RRF 2021-22 Vice President Leigh Brown recognized individual REALTORS and state associations for their donations.
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Hope Rising Campaign Co-chair Dave Legaz and Hope Rising Campaign Co-chair Craig Wilburn also recognized contributors and encouraged others to donate.
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Artist Daniel Murphy worked on a mural in real time during the Hope Rising virtual event.