NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwired - Nov 9, 2014) - The National Association of Realtors^® honored and celebrated Realtors^® during the 2014 REALTORS® Conference & Expo for their ongoing commitment to serving individuals and communities, helping the underprivileged, and improving the lives of their clients and neighbors.

REALTOR^® Magazine's 2014 Good Neighbor Award winners were recognized during the conference's general session. The award program recognizes Realtors^® who make an extraordinary impact through volunteer work; the five winners received a $10,000 grant for their charities.

"REALTOR^® Magazine's Good Neighbor Awards recognize those who go above and beyond the call of duty to help their communities," said NAR President Steve Brown, co-owner of Irongate Inc. in Dayton, Ohio. "These men and women demonstrate every day the power one person has to make a difference in their community."

Another Realtor^® was acknowledged for her work promoting the Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised money for research for ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. "Realtor^® Nancy Frates and her husband John became involved with the cause two years ago when their 27-year-old son Pete was diagnosed with ALS," said Brown. "Nancy has become a tireless advocate for ALS, fighting for greater awareness and raising funds to battle this fatal disease, which has no treatment and no known cure."

Earlier this summer, Brown called on Realtors^® across the country to take the Ice Bucket Challenge and submit their videos. To date the challenge has raised more than $100 million for ALS research.

Earlier this week, Realtors^® joined the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity to help build a home for New Orleans native Quenetria Harris and her son. This is the 14^th year NAR has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a home in the city hosting NAR's annual conference and the fourth time building in New Orleans.

Realtors^® from across the country also joined the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors^®, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, and Harmony Neighborhood Development, among other community organizations to hold a Better Block build on New Orleans' LaSalle Street. Better Block helps citizens engage in a temporary, short-term build-out to show the potential of a one-to-two block area in need of revitalization.

At the Better Block event, Realtors^® helped restore the historic Dew Drop Inn, a former nightclub, hotel, restaurant and barber shop that once hosted music acts from Ray Charles to Little Richard. The community will soon have access to a restaurant, an outdoor stage and an art installation where local children can showcase their work.