Chicago, Illinois - USA WEEKEND Magazine, the Points of Light Foundation, and actor Paul Newman advised local real estate firm Baird & Warner this week that it was chosen to receive a national award in recognition of the firm's volunteer efforts in 2005 for its participation in "Make A Difference Day," the national day of community service.

"I love it when the act of humanity is rewarded so richly." said Stephen W. Baird, CEO/President.

Baird & Warner personnel spent the day out and about in Chicago and its suburbs making a difference in all sorts of ways--from helping local homeless shelters, cleaning up parks and visiting nursing homes and hospitals--even remodeling homes for the developmentally disabled. Baird & Warner's volunteer and philanthropic initiative, the Baird & Warner Good Will Network, was the force behind this effort. In addition to the community service, all of the firm's branch offices collected retail gift cards, white crew socks and canned goods for people displaced to the Chicago area as a result of the devastating 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes. Among the specific community service projects conducted, included:

• Baird & Warner's headquarters office hosted an "un-shower" to benefit HOW (Housing Opportunities for Women), for which party guests brought items from the organization's "wish list" - just like for a baby or bridal shower.

• Baird & Warner's City West office helped the Gospel League Homeless Shelter by cleaning up and painting the shelter's playground. They also secured the head chef of Rosebud to make a 4-star meal for the residents and staff of the shelter.

• Baird & Warner of Buffalo Grove collected books for youth involved in foster and group homes through Shelter, Inc.

• Baird & Warner of Carpentersville held a "Fall Fest" to benefit PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) of Elgin, donating all the event's proceeds to the local shelter.

• Baird & Warner of Crystal Lake had an incredible turnout from its office, with 38 agents and staff members working together to refurbish the PADS shelter in McHenry County. The team painted the bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways and the kitchen of the shelter, which houses 11 formerly homeless families, most of which are headed by single mothers.

• Baird & Warner's Downers Grove office worked with filltheirtrucks.org, a local project that has been collecting, sorting and delivering food, household and school supplies to Golf Coast residents who were affected by the hurricanes.

• Baird & Warner of Fox Valley collected more than half a ton of food for the Northern Illinois Food Bank on Make A Difference Day. The food was distributed to people living in poverty in 13 northern Illinois counties. About 15 volunteers spent the day collecting nonperishable food items outside of three local grocery stores.

• Baird & Warner's Glenview, Highland Park, and Lake Forest offices teamed up on a project to benefit the Glenkirk organization, for which they refurbished a half dozen homes that house developmentally challenged persons.

• Baird & Warner of Naperville "deep cleaned" the Little Friends' Krejci Academy, which works to meet the needs of children and adults with developmental, emotional and behavioral disabilities, as well as their families. The academy has developed a special expertise in serving children with autism. The group fixed up the outside, painting and landscaping as needed. They also did a top-to-bottom cleaning inside the building, washing ceilings and walls and scrubbing the kitchen and bathrooms.

• Baird & Warner of Schaumburg took on two tasks for Clearbrook, a nonprofit that works to create opportunities for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The group worked at the organization's Resale Shop in Arlington Heights and volunteered at weekly bingo games throughout the month of October.

• And finally, while sales agents and staff were out in the Chicago area helping, branch office managers and company executives were in Mexico building homes for the "Homes of Hope" project.

Make A Difference Day is always held the last Saturday of October. Plans are already underway to make this year's national day of helping others the best yet! The 16th Annual Make A Difference Day will be held Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006.

Baird & Warner's charitable initiative - the Baird & Warner Good Will Network - is funded with $10 from every company transaction, in addition to employee donations, voluntary payroll deductions and proceeds from special events. Since its inception in 2001, it has raised more than $750,000 for area nonprofit organizations, with a special emphasis on those that work with the homeless.

Baird & Warner is Illinois' largest independent real estate firm. At 151 years of age the firm is also the nation's oldest family-owned and-operated real estate brokerage. Baird & Warner has grown to 33 offices throughout Chicago and its suburbs, with nearly 1,900 sales professionals serving more than 300 communities. In 2005, the firm enjoyed a record-breaking year, posting a residential sales volume of $6.6 billion. Baird & Warner has evolved over the years to become a one-stop-shopping experience for its clients, offering an integrated family of services all under one roof - residential brokerage, mortgage, title, and home services. Baird & Warner's website www.bairdwarner.com is continually rated as the "#1 Real Estate Website in Chicagoland."

Baird & Warner

Baird & Warner

Baird & Warner is Illinois' largest independent real estate firm. At 151 years of age the firm is also the nation's oldest family-owned and-operated real estate brokerage. Baird & Warner has grown to 33 offices throughout Chicago and its suburbs, with nearly 1,900 sales professionals serving more than 300 communities. In 2005, the firm enjoyed a record-breaking year, posting a residential sales volume of $6.6 billion. Baird & Warner has evolved over the years to become a one-stop-shopping experience for its clients, offering an integrated family of services all under one roof - residential brokerage, mortgage, title, and home services. Baird & Warner's website www.bairdwarner.com is continually rated as the "#1 Real Estate Website in Chicagoland."

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