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$3,200 Raised at Los Gatos/Saratoga District Pumpkin Auction


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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Los Gatos/Saratoga District Chair-Elect Bill Rehbock shows off special gifts that come with an auction item, while Jim Hamilton tries to entice members to up the bid for the item.

For many SILVAR members, the Los Gatos/Saratoga Pumpkin Auction signals the beginning of fall, ushering in the holiday season and the true spirit of giving. This year was no different. Despite the challenges of today's market, members expressed their generosity by participating in the annual event, raising $3,200 for Operation Reindeer and the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Operation Reindeer, a program conducted through the Red Cross, helps families in the area with food, clothing and gifts for the holidays. The District's Pumpkin Auction provides the seed money to start the REALTOR® -funded portion of Operation Reindeer. Individual REALTORS® and their offices also contribute to the fund.

Second Harvest Food Bank is a private non-profit organization that collects and distributes more than 30 million pounds of food throughout the year to low-income children, adults and seniors in the area.

Jim Hamilton, a SILVAR member and former California Association of REALTORS® president, served as the persuasive auctioneer. Hamilton told members in this challenging market, "a positive attitude is key to success, and what better way to show it than to bid on an auction item!"

"Please be generous, as everything we raise will go directly to the children," Hamilton announced.

SILVAR REALTORS® and affiliates were generous. There were members and their offices who exercised their talents by decorating pumpkins and fall arrangements to auction off along with special prizes. Other members, in turn, bid generously on these items, including a couple of huge pumpkins weighing over 200 pounds. The giant pumpkins, often the highlight of the annual auction, are donated each year by Helen Pastorino.

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The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, email , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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