STERLING COMPANIES COLLECTS NEEDED ITEMS FOR SERVICEMEN, -WOMEN FIGHTING OVERSEAS

DESTIN, Fla. -  Friday, July 13, 2007 During its two-week “Support Our Troops” campaign held from mid-June through Independence Day, The Sterling Companies, Northwest Florida’s only fully integrated, full-service resort development, sales and management firm, successfully collected more than 100 much-needed and requested items to send to three family members of employees currently serving on active duty overseas.

Employees from the Sterling Development, Sterling Realty and Sterling Resorts divisions were encouraged to donate items ranging from toiletries, DVDs, dryer sheets, batteries and much more at collection points at both the company’s Destin- and Panama City-based offices.

At the end of the campaign, 100 items totaling 120 pounds, were collected and shipped to CW2 Scott Beaman, an army medivac pilot currently serving in Iraq (brother of Sherry Farmer, The Sterling Companies director of marketing, new sales), Sr. Airman Joseph Snider, currently serving with the US Air Force in Iraq (husband of Amber Snider, reservation agent for Sterling Resorts) and T. Stg. Miguel Lang, currently serving with the US Air Force in Afghanistan (fiancé of Terryl Rutland, guest service agent for Sterling Resorts).

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the excitement our employees showed in supporting this initiative,” said Garrett McNeil, The Sterling Companies CEO. “We consider Scott, Joseph and Miguel members of our Sterling family. Collecting these needed items for them and their fellow troops was the least we could do to make them feel comfortable while they are away from home.”

“The Sterling Companies prides itself on giving back, still I was amazed by the support of my fellow Sterling employees during this collection,” said Farmer.  “My brother told me that he and his fellow troops are really looking forward to receiving their shipment of items.  He is extremely thankful for the care packages and the prayers.”

ABOUT STERLING REALTY:
Sterling Realty LLC (www.sterlingrealtysales.com ), formerly known as Real Estate International, Inc. (REII), is one of the oldest real estate companies on Florida’s Emerald Coast, and having sold more than $1 billion in real estate on the Gulf Coast in the past three years, is also among the largest. The company oversees the sales of commercial, residential and general real estate properties in Northwest Florida. It also acts as a “real estate sales arm” for its sister company, Sterling Development, enabling Sterling Realty customers to have the first opportunity to take advantage of preconstruction resort real estate opportunities.

ABOUT THE STERLING COMPANIES:
The Sterling Companies, consisting of Sterling Development, Sterling Realty and Sterling Resorts, is Northwest Florida’s only fully integrated, full-service resort development, sales and management firm.

From resort development and real estate sales to vacation home rental and homeowner association management, The Sterling Companies provide a full range of services for luxury resorts, condominiums and vacation homes located throughout Northwest Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.

Headquartered in Destin, Fla., The Sterling Companies employ more than 650 people and is projecting combined 2006 annual revenues in excess of $600 million. For more information, visit www.TheSterlingCo.com<.

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For more information, contact:
Jennifer Kron at 407-261-0121 or jkron@gilbertmanjura.com