BLUFFTON, S.C. – (Feb. 12, 2008) – The South Carolina office of Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates, an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates, proudly celebrates the first anniversary of the launch of its dedicated charitable fund which benefits organizations and special projects in the Lowcountry. The award-winning company was the first local real estate firm to establish its own charitable foundation, leading the way in service and dedication to the greater Hilton Head Island/Bluffton community.“We look forward to continuing this charitable tradition,” said Beverly Serral, an associate broker at Cora Bett Thomas Realty’s South Carolina office. “Bettering our community by helping families and giving to our youth -- our future leaders -- has been extremely rewarding.”In its first year, The Cora Bett Thomas Realty – SC Community Fund donated a sizeable gift to the Bluffton High School Booster Club to help support the school’s athletic programs and has disbursed funds to a local family in need. Donations are made in honor of buyers and sellers involved in the sale of any property at Cora Bett Thomas Realty’s South Carolina office. Clients receive written notice of charitable gifts made to the fund in their name.“We have received tremendous positive feedback from our clients,” said Serral. “It is wonderful to see the satisfaction our agents get from donating to such great and worthy causes.”A percentage of gross commissions from every sale at the firm’s South Carolina office is now donated to the Cora Bett Thomas Realty – SC Community Fund. The fund is managed by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening community by connecting people, resources and needs. Agents agreed to donate a percentage of their commissions to a wide range of charitable causes in the Lowcountry. Over 98 percent of the funds donated benefit local causes.“This is such an outstanding and creative way for our South Carolina office to make a difference in the community,” said company founder Cora Bett Thomas. “I commend the generosity of our South Carolina agents and fully support this charitable initiative and its future.”Community foundations are independent philanthropic organizations working in specific geographic areas which, over time, build permanent collections of endowed funds contributed from many donors. With nearly 700 community foundations nationwide holding roughly $35 billion in assets, they make up one of the fastest growing sectors of philanthropy in the U.S. today.ABOUT CORA BETT THOMAS REALTY & ASSOCIATESWith listings for the area’s finest residential and commercial properties, Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates is an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates and a longtime member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, The Board of Regents, Leading Estates of the World, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (formerly RELO) and Luxury Portfolio. The firm dominates the luxury real estate market along the Georgia and South Carolina coast, with offices based in Savannah, Ga. and Bluffton, S.C. Under the leadership of founder and CEO Cora Bett Thomas, the company features an expert team of agents who specialize in historic homes, luxury condominiums, commercial real estate, investment property, land and waterfront property. Savannah Magazine and Connect Savannah readers recently voted Cora Bett Thomas Realty & Associates the “Best Real Estate Company.” For additional information, please visit www.CoraBettThomas.com online or call 912.233.6000 for the Savannah office or 843.757.6002 for the Bluffton/Hilton Head office.About the Community Foundation of the LowcountryFounded in 1994, the mission of the community foundation is to strengthen community by connecting people, resources, and needs. In the years since inception, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and affiliate Hilton Head Island Foundation have grown through additional gifts and investments and provided more than $22 million in grants to support local nonprofits. In addition to grantmaking, the community foundation focuses on assisting donors to meet their philanthropic goals and acts as a convener of resources to address community concerns. In July 2001, the community foundation expanded to serve residents in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. For additional information, please visit www.cf-lowcountry.org online or call 843.681.9100.