NAAEI investment nears $4 million.

The National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) is pleased to announce three additional $100,000 contributions from industry members as part of NAAEI's "Investing in Our Profession" campaign.

BRE Properties and National Supplier's Council members ApartmentCareers.com and The Home Depot Supply each recently invested $100,000, and Moran & Co. joined with RMK Management to make a $25,000 investment. Earle Leeder, President, Leeder Management, Brookline, Mass., a member of NAA's Independent Rental Owners Committee with 315 units, contributed a personal gift of $10,000. These investments bring the campaign's fund-raising total to more than $3.87 million. Its initial fund-raising goal is $5 million.

NAAEI is an independent entity created by the National Apartment Association (NAA) with a mission to provide broad-based education, training and recruitment programs that attract, nurture and retain quality professionals and develop tomorrow's industry leaders.

The Institute will:

* Create awareness of apartment careers;

* Develop a comprehensive managerial development program;

* Work with NAA's national network of affiliates to build a recruitment pipeline for the industry; and

* Identify and promote career ladders and competencies for apartment management.

"NAAEI addresses a gaping hole in the multifamily industry for educational programs to train and prepare our future professionals and leaders," said Deirdre J. Kuring, Executive Vice President, Asset Management, BRE Properties Inc., San Francisco. "The Institute will also increase public awareness of the multifamily industry as a viable and valuable career option. BRE is proud to be a part of this exciting NM initiative."

Mike Hendel, Senior Manager, Strategic Marketing, The Home Depot Supply, said, "The Home Depot Supply is proud to support the NAAEI. The Institute's goals are important to all who serve the industry--owners, managers, associates and suppliers. And as a leading supplier to the industry, we are proud to make this contribution to help the industry achieve its goals."

Mary Ann King, President, Moran & Co., Costa Mesa, Calif., and 2006 Chairman of the National Multi Housing Council, said, "The property management business has long been plagued by high turnover and a lack of professionalism. As leaders, we need to invest in the infrastructure of our industry--our people. We need to help potential employees understand what a career in the property management field is all about and give them the tools they need to be successful in their chosen fields."

Contributions to NAAEI are an investment in the future of the apartment industry and broad participation is important. Gifts are tax-deductible as charitable contributions; pledges may be paid in three to five years.