4 March 2009 – The CoreNet Global Community Reinvestment Challenge, or CRC, has taken on many forms throughout North America since it was launched in 2003, whether it's at the Global Summit level or within the network of local chapters.

The Houston Chapter's support of New Hope Housing, a non-profit organization that develops and operates life-stabilizing, affordable single-room-occupancy apartment homes for Houston citizens living on extremely low incomes, is a noteworthy part of CoreNet Global's aggregate CRC impact. For one, the chapter selected New Hope as an ongoing CRC partner the same year that CRC was introduced, resulting in a remarkable $238,000 in total contributions over the past six years.

The Houston group realized a big milestone recently as part of its long-term support of New Hope, sharing all of the money netted from the Chapter's hugely successful CRE of the Year Awards dinner and annual golf tournament.

As a result of both events held in 2008, the Chapter presented a check on January 29 of more than $108,800 in cash contributions, representing almost half of the total donated since 2003, according to Sandra Lynch, co-chair of the CRE awards event and past President of the Houston Chapter.

"It was especially gratifying to see the faces of each New Hope board member and the appreciation they expressed," reported Sandy, who is Vice President and Director of Client Development for Page Southerland Page in Houston.

Sandy related words like "unbelievable" and "flabbergasted" in sharing the reactions of New Hope's board member when the chapter presented the check for $108,800 recently.

The local CRC support of the underserved residential real estate niche targeted by New Hope embraces the early vision of CRC to leverage real estate solutions that help improve the quality of life of the communities where CoreNet Global members live and work.

At a time when the failure of financial and credit markets has brought renewed focus on corporate social responsibility, the Houston Chapter has set a timely example by supporting a solution that addresses the fall-out of tough economic times on individuals along with the need to give back in a meaningful way.

For more information on the Houston Chapter CRC focus, click here.

For more information on current CRC programs including the Dallas Global Summit, visit the CRC Web site.