ERA Key Realty Service’s LaChance Attends Reception for “The Friends of the Framingham Heart Study”

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Pictured is local ERA Key Realty Services Realtor Karen LaChance CRS, GRI, participant and president of a group known as The Friends of the Framingham Heart Study and Secretary Michael O. Leavitt, at a reception prior to his remarks.
 Recently, the U. S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt, came to the Sheraton Framingham Hotel to be the keynote speaker at an event hosted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to honor the participants of the Framingham Heart Study.
 Three generations of residents have taken part in one of the nations most extensive and successful research studies funded by NHL&BI. The internationally recognized study is in its 60th year in 2008. The contributions of the FHS are well established. Because of this study, we understand the significant role that risk factors play in the development of heart disease – the #1 cause of death in the United States today. People now take action to lower their risk of heart disease, through steps like controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels and following a heart-healthy diet. Genetic information is now being made available to qualified researchers worldwide to bolster understanding of a broad range of health conditions.
 LaChance has been a sales associate with ERA Key Realty Services since 1990 and has been working in real estate for over 30 years.
  ERA Key Realty Services has offices in Framingham, Franklin, Milford, Oxford, Spencer, Westboro, Whitinsville and Worcester. With sales of $624 million in 2005, it is among the top 10 residential real estate brokerage firms in Massachusetts and the top ERA Company in Massachusetts.

ERA Key Realty Services Worcester Agents Assist with Winslow Park Project

Worcester, MA – ERA Key Realty Services proudly acknowledges the recent community efforts put forth by two of the firm’s real estate professionals in the Worcester branch. Luz Gonzalez and Jennifer Solin, local Worcester residents, have been actively involved with the arrangements for the creation of Winslow Park on Pleasant Street. The group these agents belong to, Women Together, has been instrumental in making the park a reality.
Women Together was formed in 2003, following the murder of a young person in the downtown Pleasant St. neighborhood of Worcester. The group came together with the objective to stop the violence and make the area a better place to live. It was the untimely death of another young person in 2006 that prompted another member of Women Together with the idea and design of re-creating Winslow Park. Winslow Park had previously been vacant and abandoned for the past 30 years. The park will serve as a memorial for youth who lost their lives to violence - a “neighborhood peace park”.
Gonzalez and Solin have been active in planning and coordinating arrangements for the Winslow Park project through Women Together and through their involvement with ERA Key Realty Services. ERA Key encourages its associates to engage themselves in charitable giving, teamwork, and community services and gladly recognizes the efforts being put forth by these agents.
Although the construction stage has started, donations are still needed and appreciated. Anyone interested in donating to this worthy cause can do so by mailing a check made out to Women Together to Ines Beron, Women Together Coordinator, at 301 Pleasant St. Worcester, MA 01609.
ERA Key Realty Services is a locally owned franchisee of ERA. With 9 offices in Central Massachusetts and Metro West and 290 licensed agents is among the top 10 companies in ERA nationwide and one of the top 5 real estate companies in Massachusetts.

ERA REAL ESTATE PRESENTS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION WITH A $2 MILLION DONATION

ERA® Commemorates Its 30-Year Relationship With The Muscular Dystrophy Association At The 2007 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon

PARSIPPANY, N.J., (Sept. 7, 2007) — ERA Franchise Systems LLC proudly celebrated the 30th anniversary of its partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). As MDA’s only corporate sponsor from the real estate industry, ERA Real Estate presented MDA with a check for $2 million at the 2007 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon on Labor Day.

P.J. Martin Smith, Senior Vice President of Marketing, ERA Franchise Systems LLC and MDA Vice President, says, “Nothing gives the people at ERA Real Estate greater satisfaction than helping MDA in its important work. This year’s donation is clear example our commitment to these wonderful children and families.”

The 30-year relationship has been so rewarding because the ERA® network of brokers and sales professionals feels a deep and genuine investment in the work of MDA. Through a variety of programs, individual offices can both sponsor their own fundraisers and participate in ERA nationwide programs such as “Home Grown Hero,” which allows them to invite individuals on their e-mail lists to contribute to the cause. The impact of these efforts has been felt in the communities across the country where ERA Real Estate has a presence.

From sponsoring MDA summer camps for children to raising funds for researching a cure, ERA Real Estate has helped in the fight against neuromuscular disease for over 30 years and the company and its franchise affiliates have raised over $30 million dollars in total for this great cause.

“Knowing that we have been able to make a difference in these families’ lives motivates us to continue enhancing our partnership in every way possible,” says Martin Smith.

Scarlett Ford-Marchman, Director of Program Development, Muscular Dystrophy Association, agreed, stating, “The relationship between ERA Real Estate and MDA has been extremely important in moving us closer to reaching our goals and helping the children and their families.” Ford-Marchman cites the MDA summer camp program as an example of how ERA Real Estate touches the lives of the children directly, saying, “The children who attend the MDA summer camps enjoy it so much–it’s a time when they can feel more like other children and form special friendships with each other.”

In the end, ERA Real Estate is only able to demonstrate as much support for MDA as its associates are willing to provide. A perfect representative of the company’s spirit of giving and community outreach is the ERA Real Estate 2007 Ed Bilinkas Memorial Award winner, Bruce Taylor, broker of ERA Key Realty, Milford, Mass. The Ed Bilinkas Memorial Award is given each year to an ERA company that through charitable efforts best captures the ERA Real Estate philosophy of giving back to the community. Taylor received the award on behalf of his team in recognition of their outstanding success in using a variety of innovative techniques to raise contributions for MDA and other causes.

Mike Seaver and Nelson Zide represented ERA Key Realty at the 2007 MDA telethon, but as much as Taylor’s team enjoyed participating in that event, they are not motivated by the honors they have earned. Rather, as Taylor says, “When you can see the appreciation in the faces of our programs’ local beneficiaries and the children, it just reminds you how much you get by giving.” He adds, “Charitable work has to come from the heart.”

Other ERA attendees of the telethon include the ERA International Open House winner, Jose S. Castelo of ERA Jose S. Castelo Real Estate in New Bedford, Mass., and the 2007 ERA MDA Day in May Award winner Bill Hurt of ERA Shields in Colorado Springs, Colo. These extraordinary goals could not have been achieved without their commitment and the support of ERA Real Estate’s other 38,000 team members.

ERA Real Estate is proud to have these individuals represent it during the telethon but even prouder that its programs have collectively been able to help MDA in communities across America. Ford-Marchman sums it up best, saying, “If it weren’t for the folks at ERA we simply couldn’t do what we do. The help they provide with fund-raising, public awareness, and direct involvement with our children is invaluable.”

About ERA Franchise Systems LLC
ERA Franchise Systems LCC is a global leader in the residential real estate industry with more than 30 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. Since 1977, ERA Real Estate has teamed up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in its fight against neuromuscular diseases, raising more than $30 million. The ERA network includes more than 38,000 brokers and sales associates and approximately 3,000 offices throughout the United States and 44 other countries and territories. Each office is independently owned and operated except offices owned and operated by NRT Incorporated. ERA Franchise Systems LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, the world’s largest real estate franchisor. ERA Franchise Systems LLC information is available at ERA.com.

You Get by Giving

From Steve Hubbard, Spencer Office Manger, ERA Key Realty Services

We all know the old saying that tragedy can strike at any time. ERA Key Realty Services Spencer office agent Amy Luksha and her husband Dan unfortunately learned this the hard way when their home in Ware burned to the ground over the Easter weekend. No one was at home at the time, but they lost virtually everything they owned.

ERA Key has a set of Core Values unique to the industry, one of which is “You Get By Giving.” In the truest sense of this value, the ERA Key Spencer office pulled together to help a teammate in need. We recently held a “shower” for Amy and Dan providing them with donations of cash and gift cards from both the members of the Spencer office and from the wider ERA Key family to help Amy and Dan get their lives off the ground once again. Hundreds of dollars were raised which will go a long way towards Amy and Dan returning to a normal life again as soon as possible.

This was a great example of the agents and staff of ERA Key actually living one of our core values and is what sets us apart from the competition.

ERA Key Realty Services Wins National Award for Commitment to Fighting Muscular Dystrophy

Whitinsville, MA March 26, 2007 – ERA Key Realty Services was recognized recently for its annual fundraising efforts to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). ERA Key Realty Services, which raised $51,900 for MDA in 2006, received the prestigious
Ed Bilinkas Memorial Award at the 2007 ERA International Business Conference, held March 7-11, 2007 in Las Vegas, for being the leading fund raising Company for MDA. ERA Key Realty Services has been a fundraiser for MDA since its inception over 10 years ago.  For each of those years, the company has been a winner of the Jerry Award, named for Jerry Lewis the Fundraising Chairman for MDA, and is awarded to companies who donate more than $10,000 to MDA. “It is very gratifying and encouraging to see colleagues, local businesses and other members of the community recognized for their support of such a worthy cause,” said Bruce Taylor, President. “Local efforts such as this make all the difference in the world for those served by MDA nationwide.” Since 1977, ERA brokers and sales associates have collectively raised over $30 million to fund research and provide services to help the more than one million Americans affected by neuromuscular diseases. As the sole corporate sponsor of MDA from the real estate industry, ERA has consistently been among the top corporate contributors to the organization each year.

ERA Key Realty Services is a locally owned franchisee of ERA.  With 9 offices in Central Massachusetts and Metro West and 290 licensed agents is among the top 10 companies in ERA nationwide and one of the top 5 real estate companies in Massachusetts.

‘Tis The Time For Toys

Spencer New Leader - Spencer, MA, USA
http://www.spencernewleader.com/
SPENCER – Visitors to the ERA Key Realty building in Spencer last Saturday could have been forgiven for imagining that they accidentally had wandered into Santa’s workshop at the North Pole.

Toys, clothes and other gift items were piled high on both floors of the building ready for distribution to needy children through the Spencer Toys For Tots program. Volunteers stumbled over the toys and each other’s feet as they finished a week-long project of bundling together the gifts each family was slated to receive.

The window for families to pick up their toys was between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the day, but program coordinator Donna Flannery said Spencer Toys For Tots’ volunteers would make deliveries to families unable to visit the office.

The $11,090 collected by Spencer Toys for Tots represented the most generous outpouring of financial support in the program’s long history, Flannery said.

Prompted by a mailing sent throughout the town, many businesses raised money for Spencer Toys For Tots, including Ragsdale Chevrolet, Webster Credit Union, Curves fitness center, Finally Kelly’s hair salon and Under the Sun tanning parlor. Spencer Furniture, though unable to do its traditional “photos with Santa” fund raiser still managed to put together a generous donation.

ERA Key Realty itself raised money by raffling off a Thanksgiving centerpiece and a Christmas basket.

Area schools also pitched in with fund-raising efforts of their own. Students at Knox Trail Junior High School collected more than $400, the Future Teachers and Future Nurses clubs at David Prouty Regional High School each made donations, and for the movie night at Lake Street School, at which students were treated to a screening of The Polar Express, each family was asked to contribute one new toy. Kay Spence delivered more than 50 toys collected during the movie night to Spencer Toys For Tots headquarters.

Shopping commenced about three weeks ago, as Flannery, along with Spencer Toys For Tots volunteers Linda and Jimmy Laney, Lisa and Kenny Devries, Colleen Stearns, Joy and Bob Cirba, Kayleen and Ryan Flannery, and Sibil Zak, were each assigned to shop on behalf of specific families.

More than 80 families, consisting of 209 children, filed applications to receive gifts through the program. Flannery said she tried to ensure that each child would receive three toys, as well as stocking stuffers.

Flannery and her family are in their fifth year of overseeing Spencer Toys for Tots, inheriting the role performed previously by her cousin Susan Anderson, who had stepped in for her parents, Leo and Maryanne Cournoyer. Carol and John Halstead also coordinated the program for many years.

This is the first year families have been able to pick up their allotment of toys at the ERA Key Realty Services building. In previous years the toys were stored there, but 10 to 15 pickup trucks had to be enlisted to transport them to the Spencer Memorial Town hall, where the families could collect their portion. Last year, both Taylor Rental and Leveillee Woodworking donated larger trucks to aid in the toy transportation process.

Flannery lauded the generosity of the community’s residents, businesses and schools on behalf of Spencer Toys for Tots and the needy families that it serves.

“That’s the only reason we can do what we do, to fill all the needs and requests,” Flannery said.

Along with the ERA Key Realty building, the Spencer Fire department, the Spencer post office, Ragsdale Chevrolet, Spencer Savings Bank and the Spencer New Leader served as drop off points.

ERA Key Realty Services Captures Second Place in Fund Raising Event

Framingham, MA, December 11, 2006 – ERA Key Realty Services in Whitinsville recently announced that a team from the firm’s Framingham office finished second out of twenty-four in the recent 25^th Annual Town-wide Framingham Spelling Bee held at the Cameron Middle School.

            The event raises thousands of dollars for innovative programs in the Framingham Public School District and is administered by the Framingham Education Foundation which provides the grants. ERA Key Realty Services has been one of the proud sponsors of the event for 10 years.

     ERA Key Agents Clark Broden and Kristen Stewart, along with administrative assistant Amybeth Babeau comprised the team, which finished runner-up to the victorious Charlotte Dunning Elementary School. Both teams went 14 rounds of spelling correct words before a winner was declared.

 ERA Key Realty Services has offices in Milford, Framingham, Franklin, Hopkinton, Oxford, Spencer, Westboro, Whitinsville and Worcester. With sales of $624 million in 2005, it is among the top 10 residential real estate brokerage firms in Massachusetts.

Milford Relay For Life Raises $238,391, ERA Key Is Top Contributor

MILFORD, Mass., Oct. 23, 2006 – Newly compiled results show the 2006 Greater Milford Relay For Life, which took place in May, raised $238,391 for the American Cancer Society, well ahead of its goal of $225,000, according to Co-Chair Linda Abrams.Abrams is a real estate agent at ERA Key Realty Services.  The ERA Key Team was the top fundraiser for the Milford Relay For Life, raising $15,255.Based on the funds raised, the Greater Milford Relay has been named one of the Top 25 Relays For Life in New England.“It’s a real tribute to the people who participated in the event and to those who pledged money that we were able to exceed the previous year’s total by more than $65,000, in spite of a driving rain,” Abrams said.  “It was worth getting soaked for a good cause.”The Relay For Life, which is the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraising event, attracted 1,203 walkers, along with 130 cancer survivors, organized in 78 teams. 

ERA Key’s Milford team was joined by ERA Key Team Too from the Whitinsville office, while the Franklin office organized a silent auction for the event.Besides Abrams, other members of the ERA Key Team from the Milford office include co-captains Susan Gallagher and Joan Rudman, Donna Arthur, Office Manager Lynne Castiglioni, Barbara Diniz, Nicole Doucette, Dennis Dunphy, Johanna Ferrucci, Paula Gagnon, Becky Goyer, Tina Lavery, Marilyn Maguire, Meg McElroy, Michelle Moore, Sharon O’Reilly, Sue Pagnini, Maggie Ray, Les Rudman, Suzanne Taylor, Donna Thomas, Jacki Vieira, Mauri Wheeler, and Oxford agent Rob Farley.

Members of ERA Key Team Too, which raised more than $4,000, include Captain Patty Dobson, Co-Captain Michele Bethel, Office Manager Maureen Benoit, Kimberly Burgess, Gail Carter, Brian Dicks, Susan Dicks, Lea Gonyor, Lori Martin Hughes, Lori Kelleher, Donna Majowicz, Robert Moore, Cheryl Poulin, John Sauer and Vice President Cheryl Taylor. 

Julie Tonkonogy of the Franklin office organized a silent auction and agents from the Franklin office contributed a gift basket. 

The silent auction raised nearly $4,000.The money raised from the Relay For Life goes back to the participating communities.  Funds raised from the Milford Relay For Life will benefit Milford, Hopedale, Mendon, Upton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Blackstone and Millville.Anyone who wants to make a donation can contact Abrams at 508-735-7744 or lindaabrams@erakey.com.*     *     *     *     *

ERA Key Realty Services has offices in Milford, Framingham, Franklin, Hopkinton, Oxford, Spencer, Westboro, Whitinsville and Worcester.  With sales of $624 million in 2005, it is among the top 10 residential real estate brokerage firms in Massachusetts.