Real Estate ladies search for their Man of the Year.

The Association of Real Estate Women (AREW) has announced that it is undertaking an historic first for the 28-year-old organization dedicated to supporting the professional growth of women real estate professionals: It will name a "Man of the Year" in early 2006 who will be honored at a breakfast to be held in May 2006.

The initiative is being undertaken under the auspices of the AREW Charitable Fund, a not- for-profit affiliation of AREW, with proceeds from the event to benefit Women In Need, Inc. (WIN) with which AREW has a long-standing charitable relationship.

Co-chairs for the "Man of the Year" award and event are AREW Charitable Fund co-chair Dorothy Vermeer, vice president, H.J. Kalikow & Co., and Presidents' Council member Ruth A. Agnese, senior vice president, Appraisers & Planners, Inc., who also co-chaired AREW's 25th Anniversary Gala at the St. Regis.

AREW, the oldest and largest real estate organization for women real estate professionals, has been in the forefront of contributing to and raising awareness of the growth, power and position of women in the industry since 1978. The association has previously spearheaded numerous awards initiatives which named outstanding women real estate leaders.

"It is exhilarating that women have progressed so far in the real estate industry and that AREW has risen to a level from which it is now timely and appropriate to name a Man of the Year," said Ms. Vermeer. "The AREW Charitable Fund is excited to be the originator of this prestigious award."

"AREW has been an innovator in acknowledging women of outstanding achievement," said Ms. Agnese. "Now we are turning the tables by shining a spotlight on a man of high achievement. It is more than fitting that AREW is, once again, taking a leadership position."

Nominations for "Man of the Year" will be accepted from AREW members only and are due by December 15th. An announcement of the honoree is expected in January 2006.

The Nomination Committee is being chaired by AREW Presidents' Council member Marie-Claire Cunningham, senior vice president, Corporate Solutions, Jones Lang LaSalle. According to Ms. Cunningham, the Man of the Year will be not only be a man of achievement, but also a "man of value", someone who gives back to the greater community and makes a difference in the quality of lives and the world through generosity of heart, mind, spirit and philanthropy.

AREW is partnering with Real Estate Weekly on the "Man of the Year" initiative. The publication will serve as the event's sole media sponsor and publish a special "AREW: Man of the Year" supplement honoring the recipient on May 10, 2006.

"We are excited about the AREW Charitable Fund's origination of this unique award and to have Real Estate Weekly, who has been a stalwart supporter of both AREW and all women real estate professionals, as a partner in this initiative, "said AREW 2005-06 president Amy S. Applebaum, vice president, JPMorgan Chase Community Development Group.

For more information about AREW and AREW Charitable Fund, log onto www.arew.org.

WIN, the recipient of proceeds from the "Man of the Year" event, is a New York City-based not-for-profit organization that serves more than 4,000 homeless and disadvantaged women and children each year. For more information about WIN: www.women-in-need.org.