MDA SUMMER CAMP
MADISON, N.J. (April 5, 2016) – ERA Real Estate, a leading global real estate franchisor, recently
announced its latest milestone in the ERA MDA Summer Camp Challenge. Last year at the brand’s
annual International Business Conference, president and CEO Charlie Young challenged the
organization to rally together to send 1,000 children with muscular diseases to a Muscular Dystrophy
Association summer camp over the next three years. Now, just one year in, ERA’s community has
reached 67 percent of its goal.
“When introducing the challenge to our enthusiastic network of real estate professionals last year, I
encouraged them to pledge based on number of children they would like to send to camp, as
opposed to a dollar amount,” reflected Young. “The response has been exceptional. Not only have
we reached 67 percent of our pledge goal – or 673 kids.”
Dedication to community is at the core of ERA Real Estate’s mission, and ERA brokers and agents
have formed close relationships with MDA Goodwill Ambassadors and their families within their own communities. Thus, it was natural for brokerages from coast to coast to take a grassroots approach to fundraising – hosting events such as carnivals, golf tournaments, art shows and countless more.
At this week’s ERA conference, team members participated in a “Riber Run and Dance Party”
fundraiser for MDA, in honor of the late Jeff Riber Sr., raising more than $25,000. Riber was a longstanding and well-respected member of the ERA management team, and an avid runner and dance lover, who passed away last year.
“Our fundraising momentum is so great that, at our 2016 International Business Conference last
week, I challenged our team members to meet 100 percent of the pledge goal in two years rather
than three,” Young explained. “We are not just sending kids to camp. We are giving them the
opportunity to enjoy new experiences, make new friends, discover their strengths and passions, and
build the confidence to achieve their goals.”
MDA Summer Camps offer the amenities and activities of a traditional summer camp, but are
designed to meet the unique physical needs of children living with muscle diseases. For many
children living with these afflictions, camp is considered by them to be the best week of the year.
Over the past 35 years, ERA Real Estate has raised nearly $35 million for MDA. In 2014, ERA
introduced a new branding campaign designed to energize the network, and simultaneously, a
renewed dedication to the cause. Recently, ERA has been recognized for its ERA MDA Summer
Camp Challenge by the PR News CSR Awards and the Ragan Communications CSR Employee
Communications awards.
We've recently started a team for the MDA Muscle Walk in Little Rock and we're asking you to join us!
Our team is partnering with MDA to lead the fight to free individuals and the families who love them from the harmful effects of muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases that take away physical strength, independence and life.
By joining our team, you’ll be supporting the 100,000 children and adults who will be served by MDA this year alone. Our MDA Muscle Walk is scheduled for: May 7, 2016.
Click Here to join our team or donate to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
