In December of 2005, Sharon Rocha started the Laci & Conner Search and Rescue Fund. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance to law enforcement agencies and non-profit organizations involved in search and rescue. These agencies are encouraged to apply for financial assistance for training, equipment, search and rescue animals or any item that can help improve their search and rescue. The hope is that through providing this additional assistance, these agencies will be better equipped and therefore be more successful in their efforts to safely return missing persons to their loved ones.

To help benefit the fund, the Carol Sund/Carrington Foundation will be presenting a comedy event at the Gallo Center for the Performing Arts called Laughing for Laci, October 11, 2008 at 8pm. Laci was a young and vibrant woman who had a beautiful smile and whose laugh was described as “contagious.” Her family and friends find it only appropriate that we commemorate her memory with comedy. “Come for the cause, Stay for the laughs.”

Laughing for Laci will be a night filled with entertainment. The event will be hosted by Larry King, featuring Colin & Brad and Wendy Liebman. Ticket sales and sponsorships will go towards The Laci & Conner Search and Rescue Fund. There will be a VIP reception held from 6:30pm to 7:30.

If you are interested in sponsoring the event or purchasing tickets, see the attached flier for more information.

Laughing for Laci Flyer

Thanks to Stacey Boyers for the news tip.

The local chapter of the American Institute for Architects is hosting an awareness event at The State Theater for anyone curious about architecture Thursday, March 13th, 2008. Come down to the Art Deco-inspired State Theatre and check out the architectural models on display in the lobby. There will also be a film starting at 7:00. Stay and watch The Fountainhead, a 1949 classic film about one mans struggle to break free from conformity and follow his own architectural vision.

This is the first event in a four part series to benefit Modesto’s historic State Theatre.

Click here for more information and tickets.

Congratulations Stacey Boyers on your recent election to the board of directors for Haven Women’s Center. It’s great to see our Real Estate Professionals active within our community.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this organization, the Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus County is a catalyst for individual empowerment and societal change.  Haven promotes safety and healing for women and children that are impacted by domestic or sexual violence.  They offer counseling, legal services, support groups, case management and a shelter as well as a transition home for these women and their children.

The Haven Women’s center is also a non-profit organization that receives some grant funding from the United Way, however, it is often not enough to provide the care and support that these women need.

Throughout the year, the Haven Women’s Center hosts several events to help fill in the gaps.

April 26th, the center will be hosting their annual Garden Party at the home of Buz and Shareen Carnes at Del Rio River Nine. The festivities will begin at 4:00 p.m. and include appetizers, beverages and live and silent auctions.  For more information, contact Stacey or Terri Western (209) 548-4528.

Tags: havenwomen’s center, garden party

Do you love the Wizard of Oz?  Maybe you have a few little tykes who you think might.  Well come on down to The State Theatre tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 to get your free tickets.

That’s right, FREE!  For the first 100 children under the age of 12, at the 4:30 showing of The Wizard of Oz, PMZ Real Estate will foot the bill for the ticket.  That’s 100 kids, and 100 free tickets.

So take off work a little early tomorrow and bring your kids down for a special treat!

Out of 15 different teams comprised of other local real estate brokerage, mortgage, and escrow companies, PMZ ranked number one this year in the annual Lodi Association of Realtors^® Can Stacking Competition for Charity.

This was all made possible by the valiant efforts of our PMZ ladies, Pam Harmon, Darcy Wendt and Kim Dale. Interestingly enough, this is reportedly only the second time the championship trophy has left Lodi since the competition was born.

Through the efforts of Harmon, Wendt and Dale, and other sponsoring companies, LAR was able to raise $18,000 dollars for donation to charitable organizations.

I can’t help but wonder, where the PMZ men were during the competition? Perhaps we will hear from them a little later on in the season? How about a little friendly competition?

‘Tis the season.

What: Live performance by contemporary Jazz Artist Steve Oliver

When: Saturday, September 22nd – 8 pm

Where: Special benefit event – The State Theatre in Modesto

Tickets: $22 to $35 – visit www.thestate.org or (209) 527-4697

Don’t miss this special performance – tickets are selling fast! You are personally invited by our very own Jon Zagaris, who has organized this benefit for the State Theatre. Great music and a very deserving cause – how could you pass this one up?

No matter where you hear his irresistibly melodic guitar lines and magnificently soulful voice-it suddenly becomes the happiest place on earth. Between the smooth, funky and cool, his wild and kinetic transformation into a human drum machine and percussion choir weakens the resistance of even the hardest core cynic of “vocalese.”

Steve Oliver is not only returning to Modesto’s historic State Theatre to do a fund-raiser for the theater, he will be doing a special videotaping for his latest DVD. This is an honor for the theater and great news for Steve’s local fans who have watched him become a superstar since he was named Best New Artist and Best Guitar Player in 2003 at the National Smooth Jazz Awards. With the 2006 release of “Radiant,” his fourth album, he established himself as one of the most listened to adult contemporary pop and smooth jazz musicians and vocalists in the world. Yes, his acoustic guitar melodies and vocals are that good!

Find out more about Steve Oliver at www.steveolivermusic.com

Special thanks to event supporters - Modesto Commerce Bank, Simile Construction, Apex Painting and Menghetti Construction

The annual Realtor Softball Tournament will be held at Rainbow Fields (corner of Claus and Claribel - Modesto) on Friday, June 1st. This is a fundraiser, benefiting the Children’s Crisis Center and raffle tickets are on sale - lots of great prizes. Raffle tickets can be purchased from Jeannie MacDonald ext 1218, Heidi Johnson at ext 1317 or Ben Allustiarte at ext 6226.

If you have any interest in playing, please contact Ben Balsbaugh at ext 4602 or email ben@pmz.com, there is room for everyone!  Don’t miss this great event!

Tyler & Ryan Blood/Marrow Drive
Saturday, April 28th
12 noon to 6 pm
Brenden Theatres - 1021 10th Street, Modesto

This is an urgent call for help by two of our Ripon agents Patti Gallegos and Lori Souza.  This is what Patti wrote in her e-mail, “Our two little cousins who live in Southern California have a rare life threatening disease that will require them to have bone marrow transplants. There is a bone marrow drive being held in Modesto this month. Attached is a flyer with the information. Could you possibly post this to get the word out for those who may want to be tested and possibly help save the lives of these two little boys. Thanks so much!”

To find out more details >> bonemarrowdrive.pdf