Ameriquest Soaring Dreams Program to Debut in San Diego Sept. 22-23; Local Youth, State Assemblymen to Help Paint 206-Foot Soaring Dreams Airship.

Youth from Aquatic Adventures Science Education Foundation and Harmonium Inc.'s 6 To 6 after-school program will join Assemblyman Juan Vargas and Assemblyman George Plescia to paint part of the 40,000-square-foot expression of hope and opportunity to be placed on one of the nation's largest blimps for nationwide tour in 2005. See www.soaringdreams.org.

Launch Events:  Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004
                Monroe Clark Middle School
                4388 Thorn
                San Diego, CA  92105
                3 p.m. - 5 p.m. PDT
                Participants: Youth from the Aquatic Adventures
                              Science Education Foundation
                Dignitaries:  California Assemblyman Juan Vargas (79th
                              District)

                Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004
                Hage Elementary School
                9750 Alvin Ave.
                San Diego, CA  92126
                3 p.m. - 5 p.m. PDT
                Participants: Youth from Harmonium Inc.'s 6 To 6
                              after-school program
                Dignitaries:  California Assemblyman George Plescia
                              (75th District)

Background:     The Ameriquest Soaring Dreams Program is a
                philanthropic, community development collaboration
                between Orange, Calif.-based Ameriquest Mortgage Co.
                and Los Angeles-based Portraits of Hope.
                Thousands of children in after-school programs in
                Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas over the
                next six months are creating the Soaring Dreams
                expression of hope and opportunity, a
                40,000-square-foot painting that will envelop one of
                the nation's largest lighter-than-air ships: The
                Ameriquest Soaring Dreams Airship.
                Soaring Dreams Airship will conduct a national tour in
                2005, serving as airborne ambassador to hopes and
                dreams of children across the country and around the
                world.

Purpose:        To promote community development through education and
                public outreach, providing children in after-school
                programs an opportunity to engage in planning,
                teamwork, and collaboration on a historic project with
                national and international impact.

Press/Photo Op: Photo op and interviews with participating youth,
                Assemblymen Vargas and Plescia, Ameriquest and
                Portraits of Hope representatives during painting
                sessions from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. PDT.