Marla Martin, Communications Manager or Jeff Zipper, Vice President of Communications
407/438-1400, ext. 2326 or 2314

Florida Realtors® Recognize 2009 Realtor ® of Year

ORLANDO, Fla., August 2009 — The late Charles “Chuck” J. Bonfiglio Sr., who served as 2008 president of the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR), was posthumously honored by Florida Realtors® as their 2009 Realtor of the Year. The award was presented during the state association’s recent 93rd annual Convention & Trade Expo at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla.

Roberta Bonfiglio and her children accepted the award on behalf of her husband, who passed away on Dec. 19, 2008. Florida Realtors’ 2009 President Cynthia Shelton, who presented the award, said she was “totally blown away by everything Chuck Bonfiglio did last year – how he was able to stand so strong in 2008.”

In accepting the award, Roberta Bonfiglio assured the audience that her husband was in the room. “Can you feel him?” she asked. “He would not miss this, believe me. He would stand here with a tear in his eye, and he would say that this is one of the greatest honors of his life, as was being president of this great association. So from my children and from my heart, let me thank you for Chuck. He loved every moment of it; he loved every one of you; and he would have loved this.”

The state association has presented Realtor of the Year and Associate Realtor of the Year awards for more than 50 years. Winners are honored as the greatest individual lifetime contributors to their local board, community, state association and the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

A licensed broker and owner of Century 21 AAA, Bonfiglio was a successful real estate professional for more than 30 years. A member of the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale (RAGFL) since 1996 and, prior to that, the former South Broward Board of Realtors, he served in various leadership capacities, from membership on numerous committees to chair RAGFL’s Executive Committee, Audit and Finance Committee, and the Investment Task Force. A firm believer in public policy and government advocacy, he was a longstanding Sterling “R” member for the Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC) and active in his local association’s RPAC.

Bonfiglio served as president of the South Broward Board of Realtors and was honored as Realtor of the Year for his work with that board. He served RAGFL as vice president in 2002, president-elect in 2003 and president in 2004. Among other awards, RAGFL named him Realtor of the Year in 2002 and Humanitarian of the Year in 2006.

Bonfiglio strongly supported the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR) and volunteered his time and talents to the state association for many years before taking up the reins as FAR president. He served on almost every FAR committee, chairing the Executive Committee, the Legislative Leadership Team and Local Board Treasurers Exchange. He was an FAR director since 1990 and a member of the Honors Society for 16 years. In 1991, Bonfiglio served as FAR District 11 vice president, became the state association’s vice president/secretary in 1994, treasurer in 2005 and president-elect in 2007.

On the national level, he was a director for NAR for 11 years and served on numerous committees, including Public Policy Coordinating, RPAC Trustees and Business Issues. He also was a member of the FAR/NAR Directors Forum and the NAR Strategy Team.

Along with his professional contributions to the real estate industry, Bonfiglio believed in making a difference in his community. He volunteered and worked for many civic organizations, charities and other worthy causes, including his local Boys and Girls Club, Catholic Charities, the Town of Davie’s Joint Economic Steering Committee and Broward County Crime Stoppers. Bonfiglio twice served as president of his local chamber of commerce and was honored as its Businessman of the Year. Another group that benefitted from his generosity was Easter Seals of Broward County: A member of the group for more than 24 years, Bonfiglio raised more than $250,000 to benefit the charity over the past five years and was recognized as its Philanthropist of the Year in 2003 and 2004. In 2006, FAR recognized his community service and honored him as Humanitarian of the Year.

Florida Realtors®, formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors®, serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its 115,000 members in 67 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.