Ameriquest Mortgage and Portraits of Hope Bring Soaring Dreams Program to California; Local Children Will Help Create World's Largest Airborne Art Project.

More than 6,000 children will create 40,000-square-foot expression of
hope and opportunity on one of nation's largest passenger blimps for
nationwide tour. Program debuts Sept. 8 with local youth from LA's
BEST after-school program.

It is destined to be a first-of-its-kind, flying masterpiece. An airborne artistic expression of hope and opportunity created by thousands of children in after-school programs, youth organizations and pediatric care facilities. The spectacular work of art will be the centerpiece of The Soaring Dreams Program, a philanthropic, community development collaboration between Ameriquest Mortgage Company and Portraits of Hope. This innovative program is coming to California on Sept. 8th. See program website at www.soaringdreams.org for more details.

Orange, Calif.-based Ameriquest is one of the nation's largest mortgage companies. Santa Monica, Calif.-based Portraits of Hope is an organization dedicated to helping children overcome difficult circumstances and build self-esteem through the development of one-of-a-kind works of public art.

Over the next six months, more than 6,000 children in after-school programs, youth organizations and pediatric care facilities throughout the Southwest will participate in 66 painting sessions to create the Soaring Dreams expression of hope and opportunity on a 40,000-square-foot canvas. The vivid canvas of colors and shapes -- five times larger than Michaelangelo's fresco masterpiece on the Sistine Chapel ceiling -- will then be installed on one of the nation's largest passenger blimps.

Known as the Ameriquest Soaring Dreams Airship, the airborne artistic masterpiece will embark on a nationwide tour of major sporting events and public ceremonies in 2005, serving as the airborne ambassador of the hopes, dreams and accomplishments of children across the country and around the world.

Soaring Dreams California Debuts Sept. 8 in Los Angeles

The Soaring Dreams program -- launched on Aug. 24 in Arlington, TX, at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club -- will debut in California on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, when youth from LA's BEST after-school program will participate in the fourth of the program's 66 paint sessions that will take place in 20 cities throughout Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

On Thursday, Sept. 9, members of Rosie's Garage after-school program in Santa Ana will continue painting the project. The next day, Sept. 10, the Soaring Dreams Program will move to Dexter Middle School in Whittier where children from the Skills Foundation after-school program will add their brushstrokes to panels that will make up the 40,000-square-foot canvas.

Community Development Through Opportunity and Education

The Soaring Dreams Program is a centerpiece of Ameriquest's philanthropic mission of community development and economic opportunity through education and outreach.

"Ameriquest is proud to partner with Portraits of Hope on the Soaring Dreams Program," said Julie Brandt, director of corporate philanthropy for Ameriquest. "Our community development mission hinges on providing children with opportunities to develop self-esteem, learn the value of teamwork and collaboration, and to achieve something that's larger than life. Soaring Dreams is a historic project that will change forever the lives of the children it touches."

"Children should dream big, bold dreams," said Ed Massey, Portraits of Hope founder. "This is an opportunity for the unimaginable to become real. And it's a wonderful chance for these youngsters to be celebrated all across the country. Soaring Dreams encourages children to think beyond boundaries, imagine life's possibilities without limitation, and to reach as high as their imaginations will allow. How great for these kids to be part of a spectacular and historic accomplishment, and part of something that is bigger than themselves."

Creativity, Teamwork and a Lot of Paint

The logistics, materials and manpower behind the Soaring Dreams Program are staggering.

Approximately 75,000 square feet of tarp will cover the floors of dozens of after-school programs, youth organizations and pediatric care centers, serving as a traveling art studio for the 6,000 young artists who will create the Soaring Dreams expression of hope and opportunity that will cover the Soaring Dreams Airship from nose to stern. As many as 1,000 paint brushes -- many of patented design for use by physically challenged children -- will be used to apply hundreds of thousands of brush strokes. Up to 450 gallons of paint and topcoat will be used to develop the stunning artwork.

Once complete, the thousands of panels comprising the Soaring Dreams Airship canvas will span more than 40,000 square feet -- five times the size of the Sistine Chapel ceiling or the equivalent of four DC-3 passenger airplanes and more than 7 professional basketball courts.

Portraits of Hope has developed paint brushes to ensure the participation of children with particular physical challenges. Among the specialized tools that will be used in the project are:

--The telescope paintbrush for children in wheelchairs

--The patented shoe-paintbrush for those who are unable to manipulate a paintbrush with their hands

--The fruit-flavored paintbrush for those kids who cannot paint with their hands or feet

Schedule of Events

Three Soaring Dreams painting sessions will take place this week in Los Angeles and Orange County:

DATE:           Wednesday, September 8, 2004
PLACE:          Gratts Elementary School
                309 S. Lucas Avenue
                Los Angeles, CA 90017
                213-350-2932
PARTICIPANTS:   Youth from LA's BEST after-school program
SPECIAL GUESTS: California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez
TIME:           9 a.m. - 11 a.m. PST

DATE:           Thursday, September 9, 2004
Place:          St. Peters Lutheran Church
                1510 North Parton St.
                Santa Ana, CA 92706
                714-542-6781
PARTICIPANTS:   Youth from Rosie's Garage after-school program
SPECIAL GUESTS: Assemblyman Lou Correa (69th Assembly District)
TIME:           3 p.m. - 5 p.m. PST

DATE:           Friday, September 10, 2004
PLACE:          Dexter Middle School
                11532 Floral Ave.
                Whittier, CA 90601
                562-789-3090
PARTICIPANTS:   Youth from Skills Foundation after-school program
SPECIAL GUESTS: Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez (56th Assembly District)
TIME:           3 p.m. - 5 p.m. PST

About Ameriquest Mortgage Company

Ameriquest Mortgage Company is a national mortgage lender committed to helping people achieve their home ownership dreams and financial freedom. To fulfill that mission, Ameriquest Mortgage originates and services home mortgage loans.

About Portraits of Hope

Dedicated to improving the human condition through the arts, Portraits of Hope conceives and develops wonderfully creative national and international projects that merge the healing arts with inspirational public art. The program is aimed at brightening and enriching the lives of children and adults -- many of whom may be coping with adversity, hardship, emotional or physical trauma, or serious illness -- through their participation in creative, high-profile, one-of-a-kind projects.

Portraits of Hope was founded in 1995 by Ed Massey and Bernie Massey, continuing their use of art and poignant visual imagery for large-scale projects of social consequence. Initially developed as a creative therapy program for seriously ill and physically disabled youth, Portraits of Hope has evolved to include a diverse group of children and adults from various community programs and institutions.