Agents Raise $400,000 Toward Autism Cure

Bob LeFever, president of Coldwell Banker Southern California, spearheaded a three-month drive ending last week that raised more than $400,000 for Cure Autism Now.

“E.R.” star Anthony Edwards and actress Rene Russo co-chaired a VIP reception and dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Thursday to mark the end of the drive to raise funds toward finding a cure for autism, a neurological disorder that affects one in 500 children.

LeFever took on the project because of a family friend with an autistic child. Hundreds of real estate agents in Coldwell Banker offices throughout the Southland joined the fund-raising efforts.

Cure Autism Now and its founder, Jonathan Shestack, recently helped Congress to pass the Omnibus Child Health bill, which dedicates $200 million for autism research over a five-year period.