Coldwell Banker began with a disaster.
After the San Francisco earthquake struck at 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, 23-year old native Colbert Coldwell was among the horrified survivors.
Much later, Americans would learn that approximately 3,000 residents died, and more than half of the population of 400,000 became homeless in the quake, estimated to register 7.6 on the Richter scale.
Coldwell vowed to help rebuild San Francisco from its ashes by attracting businesses and families to the area through real estate transactions.
Several years later, Coldwell began a partnership with Benjamin Banker that spanned more than 50 years. Now their partnership, Coldwell Banker, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp., recounted this anecdote of his organization's origins on Monday morning at the Cendant corporate headquarters in Parsippany.

Cendant is the parent company of Coldwell Banker, which now has more than 3,800 offices and 129,000 associates in residential and commercial real estate throughout the world.

Gillespie and Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, spoke before an audience of approximately 100 Coldwell Banker employees, congratulating them on the company's milestone anniversary.

Referring to the two founders, Coldwell and Banker, Gillespie said, "They'd be proud of what we've achieved. We're now 100 years young."

'The American dream'

"Home ownership is part of the American dream," Frelinghuysen said. "I congratulate you for all you provide for the American dream."

Both Frelinghuysen and Gillespie praised the work of Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization that builds affordable housing for people in need. Coldwell Banker has supported Habitat as its national charity of choice since 1993.

As part of its 100th anniversary celebration, the company has made a $5 million commitment to build at least 114 homes by the end of 2006.
When the annual Coldwell Banker International Business Conference meets in San Francisco on Feb. 16-19, Gillespie and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will participate in a Habitat for Humanity home build, sponsored by a Northern California Coldwell Banker brokerage.
Immediately following the conference, the company will launch a "Housewarming for Habitat Celebrity Auction" on eBay. The auction will benefit the Habitat for Humanity Hurricane Katrina Fund, with all proceeds going toward rebuilding Habitat homes in the Gulf Coast region.
Personal autographed items from entertainment and sports celebrities, props from movies and television shows, and opportunities for one-on-one VIP experiences will be on the auction block, according to Coldwell Banker spokesman David Siroty.
To mark the 100th anniversary, Coldwell Banker is also sponsoring, "My Home: The American Dream Contest,"based on essay and art submissions from elementary school children. From more than 1,000 entrants, three grand-prize winners will be chosen to receive $2,000 scholarships.
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