March 5, 2004

ON ERA AND “JERRY’S KIDS”

ERA Real Estate is concerned not only with fulfilling the needs of homebuyers … but also with making life better for “Jerry’s kids.”

ERA, one of the world’s leading residential franchise brokerage networks, with more than 20,000 brokers and sales associates, has been in the business of fulfilling the dream of home ownership since 1972.

ERA Real Estate has been a staunch supporter of MDA for 27 years.

In 1981, ERA established the first real estate franchise network outside North America with an outlet in Japan. Since then, ERA has expanded its worldwide network in over 30 countries and territories.

As impressive as those facts may be, they only tell part of the ERA story. In 1977, ERA Real Estate became the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s exclusive corporate sponsor from the real estate industry.

Since then, the ERA network of brokers, agents, associates and customers has donated more than $30 million to help MDA. Nationwide, ERA hosts events to benefit MDA throughout the year, including golf tournaments, walkathons and auctions.

During the past year, ERA Castelo’s Real Estate Group in New Bedford, Mass., held a Family FUNdraiser for MDA; representatives from the New York Metro Broker Council visited and interacted with youngsters at the MDA summer camp in Center Moriches, N.Y.; and ERA Brooks Real Estate in St. Petersburg, Fla., put on an MDA Bowl-a-Thon and also raised funds by mandating a $5 donation to MDA every time an ERA Team Member’s cell phone rang during a business meeting!

That’s only a small sampling of ERA activity in behalf of MDA, which last year culminated in an ERA fund-raising total of $585,411. ERA senior vice president of marketing P.J. Martin Smith – also an MDA national vice president – is slated to present that 2003 fund-raising total on the national broadcast of the 2004 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, which will air live from Hollywood and other locales later this year.

MDA is deeply proud of our affiliation with ERA, and grateful to have received this outstanding company’s support for 27 years. This kind of dedicated support allows MDA to make a difference in the lives of individuals fighting neuromuscular diseases across the country, through our programs of scientific research, compassionate medical services and summer camp for kids.

	Lisa McFadden, then Lisa Cagle, served as MDA’s National Poster Child in 1976.

And speaking of individuals who are affected by these disorders, ERA and MDA are both very important to Lisa McFadden, who was born 34 years ago under the name Lisa Cagle.

As Lisa Cagle, she served as MDA’s Arkansas State Poster Child in 1974 and MDA’s National Poster Child in 1976. Lisa received a diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy at age 4.

Years after serving in those important roles, Lisa’s continued involvement with MDA helped open a new path for her. At her local Florida broadcast of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in 2001, Lisa met Tom Neubauer of ERA Neubauer Real Estate in Panama City, Fla. The encounter spurred her to seek a new career in real estate.

Today, Lisa McFadden is a sales associate with ERA Neubauer Real Estate in Panama City, Fla.

“I took the exam, and got my license in August 2002,” Lisa remembers. “I saw Tom at the 2002 Telethon and told him I had gotten my license. He asked me when I was coming to work, and I moved into my office in September 2002. It all happened so quickly.”

ERA’s relationship with MDA clearly influenced her decision to join the company. “I never even considered going to a competing company. There’s nothing better than to work for a company that has given millions to fund research and care for the disease that you have.”

ERA held its International Business Conference in Las Vegas on Feb. 28, and an important emissary from MDA was present.

Teen music sensation and MDA National Youth Chairman Billy Gilman appeared before some 4,000 ERA brokers, agents and associates and performed “I Could… If They Would,” a song from his CD, “Music Through Heartsongs.” (The CD is a selection of songs based on the words of best-selling poet and MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Mattie Stepanek, a personal friend of Billy’s.) Billy received a standing ovation.

In addition to performing, Billy also spoke to the assembled ERA team members, talking about the inspiration he has received from Mattie and also thanking ERA for its remarkable 27 years of service to MDA.

I’d like to add my thanks to those so eloquently expressed by Billy. Next time you see an ERA team member, please express your appreciation to ERA for being such an outstanding company and for doing so much to make a real difference for “Jerry’s kids.”

With every best wish...

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