For the third year in a row, Korman Residential Properties proudly sponsored a team for the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure, the local affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which raises money for breast cancer research.

Held annually on Mother's Day, all funds raised for the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure go towards research in the fight to eradicate breast cancer. Did you know that this year. 211,300 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 39,800 will lose their lives in the battle? Breast cancer is a disease that has or will affect all of us.

Korman Residential pays the entry fees for employees who participate in the walk. Since the event occurs on Mother's Day, families of employees are encouraged to walk, and their entry fees are generously covered by the company as well. Every walker proudly wears a specially designed Team Korman t-shirt; and bus transportation is provided from two Korman Residential properties, all of which is paid for by the company. "Our owners encourage everyone to participate in events for charities that we support as a company," says Debbie Peters, director of marketing at Korman Residential Properties.

While the entry fees are paid for by Korman Residential, each participant is asked to meet an individual sponsorship goal of $100. Final monies aren't due until June 6, but the team is well on its way to achieving its fundraising goal! The team goal minimum for sponsorship money this year is $5,000.

Dawn Ewing-Ferry, a regional director at Korman Residential Properties, has been team captain of Team Korman for the past three years. She has ignited a fire under her coworkers, urging more and more people to come out every year to raise money for the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure.

In 2004, Team Korman started out with 36 walkers in the event. In 2005, Team Korman doubled its participation to 75 participants. This year 150 Korman Residential employees and their families participated in the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure, making Team Korman the fifth largest team at the event.

"It's great to work for a company that supports this event, and it's just amazing that we've doubled our participation every year for the past three years," says Ewing-Ferry.

Over the past three years, Team Korman has raised over $10,000 for the cause. And at press time, sponsorship money is still coming in from this year's race. Next year's goal: more participation and more money raised for a cause that affects all of us.