May 2, 2013 - West Babylon, NY - The Long Island Board of REALTORS® Inc. (LIBOR) recently presented a check in the amount of $5,000 to the Hampton Bays Lions Club (HBLC).   The funds will be used towards their upcoming 3rd Annual Over the Bridge 10K Run and 5K Run/Walk; in which LIBOR is participating in and will be a major sponsor of the fundraising event.

The Charity Walk/Run will take place on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 9:00am; check-in begins at 7:00am at the Hampton Bays Middle School. The course will span across the beautiful vistas along the Atlantic Ocean, Shinnecock Inlet, Shinnecock Bay, on to the breathtaking views over the Ponquogue Bridge and the residential areas of Hampton Bays. The cost of the event is $25.00 prepaid, $30.00 day of the race.  For more information on the event or to register online please visit www.ISLANDRUNNING.net.

LIBOR first became aware of this noteworthy event when Realtor® Franklin Butz, organizer and creator, was awarded the December 2012 REALTOR® Spirit Award.   Franklin, aside from a being a Realtor® for the past forty years, has also been a dedicated member of the HBLC for over 30 years. As an avid runner/jogger who participated in the Long Island Half Marathon, Shelter Island 10K and many other running events, he saw how popular these events were becoming. With this knowledge he proposed and completely organized the fundraising event for the HBLC in 2011. The Walk/Run came to be called “Over the Bridge” because the course spans over the extraordinary Ponquogue Bridge. The first year of the event was a huge success with 400 participants, and earning over $20,000 for the HBLC. The second year of the event far surpassed that with 550 participants, and over $35,000 earned.

With the funds raised the Club was able to supply five seeing eye dogs through the Smithtown Guide Dog Foundation to people in need, as well as make additional donations to the Hampton Bays Library, Churches, Boy and Girl Scouts, Booster club, little league baseball, the Dominican Sisters and local scholarships. The HBLC, established in 1948 has continuously helped people in need in the Hampton Bays and East Quogue community. LIBOR is proud to support the Hampton Bays Lions Club in their mission and looks forward to helping make this year’s event the most successful year yet.

This donation was made through the Long Island Board of REALTORS® “We’re More Than REALTORS®…” initiative, which supports numerous programs and charitable community organizations.  The “We’re More Than Realtors® campaign was created by the LIBOR Public Relations Committee.  The campaign raises the public’s awareness about Realtors® and their philanthropic efforts within their communities.