Weitzman's executive vice president Karen McCulley, a well known broker in retail leasing circles, is the cause de celebre. The foundation's inaugural event will be held Dec. 6 at Sipango in Dallas and is intended to be an annual holiday benefit for the retail real estate industry. McCulley has selected Common Cares Cancer Support Center as the first beneficiary of proceeds.

"Karen's Deal" is being supported by essentially all of the major retail real estate players in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Tim Hughes, president of Tricor Realty Advisors LLC and Scott K. Muller, senior vice president with Lincoln Property Co., along with a group of Karen's peers and close friends, have been instrumental in the formation of the foundation and enlisting industry support.

"Karen has led the marketing and team-building efforts for so many retail projects and their efforts. Our whole industry is coming together. The retail real estate industry is rallying behind a great cause and Karen is our leader," Hughes says in a prepared statement.

Muller said everyone is impressed with McCulley's professionalism, perseverance and results for clients despite her ongoing battle with cancer. "The sponsorship has been incredible," he says. "We started with a nucleus of her peers and friends and it mushroomed. As people have found out what we are doing, they have insisted on being a part of it."

Weitzman president Steven A. Lieberman says the plan is to use the foundation "to become a rallying point for our industry and a major force of its own for years to come. Karen gives so much to all of us–this is our opportunity to honor her and join her goals to help cancer patients meet their challenges."