AvalonBay sponsors recent "Make a Difference Day" projects

On October 25, several thousand residents, staff, and management of AvalonBay apartment communities all across the country partnered in "Make a Difference Day," a national day of service sponsored by USA Weekend. AvalonBay residents and staff generously gave their time, energy, and talents to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods, towns, and counties. AvalonBay-sponsored projects covered a wide variety of volunteer activities from blood drives to neighborhood cleanups to repairing the homes of the elderly and infirm in 10 cities across the nation. One of the most successful projects was in New York City. Avalon Riverview staff and residents organized a neighborhood cleanup, clothing and food drive. The residents and volunteers spent the day clearing trash from the streets in Long Island City, Queens, and contributed over 1,500 items of food and clothing for HELP USA, a local non-profit. The New York City Department of Sanitation awarded Avalon Riverview the Certificate for a Cleaner New York award. At Avalon Court, in Melville, N.Y., residents and staff worked together to clean up a local beach, in order to improve the environment and to help save the endangered Piping Plover. The volunteers, staff, local officials and residents spent the day in rainy conditions clearing beach refuse. In addition, Avalon Court raised over 500 items of food in a drive to support the needy. AvalonBay Communities Inc. is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring, and managing apartment communities in high barrier-to-entry markets of the United States. More information can be found at www.avalonbay.com. As of March 31, 2008, AvalonBay owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 183 apartment communities, with a total of 52,167 apartment homes, in ten states and the District of Columbia. Of these, 22 communities were under construction and eight communities were under reconstruction.