Press Release
Source: Ameriquest Mortgage Co.
Tuesday August 24, 9:00 am ET

Ameriquest Mortgage and Portraits of Hope Launch Soaring Dreams Program

Thousands of Children to Create World's Largest Airborne Public Art Project

ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 2004--

More Than 6,000 Children Will Create 40,000 Square-Foot Expression of Hope and Opportunity That Will Envelop One of Nation's Largest Passenger Blimps for Nationwide Tour; Program Launches in Arlington, Texas, Aug. 24
 

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 announced today in Arlington, Texas, between Ameriquest Mortgage Co. and Portraits of Hope. The program Web site is located at www.soaringdreams.org.

Orange-based Ameriquest is one of the nation's premier mortgage lenders. 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 65 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 Launches at Arlington Boys and Girls Club

The Soaring Dreams program launches Aug. 24 in Arlington, at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club, 608 N. Elm St. School children from the Arlington Independent School District, players from the Texas Rangers, the Rangers Captain mascot and Arlington Independent School District Superintendent Mac Bernd will participate in the first of the program's 65 paint sessions, which will take place in more than 20 cities throughout Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

On Wednesday, Aug. 25, members of the Arlington Boys and Girls Club will continue the painting project. The next day, Aug. 26, the Soaring Dreams Program will move to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, where patients 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 seven 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 in Arlington to kick off the program:

Date: Tuesday, Aug. 24
Place: Arlington Boys and Girls Club
608 N. Elm St., Arlington
Participants: Students of the Arlington Independent School District
Special Guests: Dr. Mac Bernd, Arlington Independent Schools
Superintendent; Texas Rangers players Mickey Callaway,
Brian Shouse, Ron Mahay, Ryan Drese and Rangers
Captain (team mascot).
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CDT


Date: Wednesday, Aug. 25
Place: Arlington Boys and Girls Club
608 N. Elm St., Arlington
Participants: Youth members of the Arlington Boys and Girls Club
Time: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. CDT


Date: Thursday, Aug. 26
Place: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
2222 Welborn St., Dallas
Participants: Patients of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for
Children
Time: 10 a.m. - Noon CDT
About Ameriquest Mortgage Co.

Ameriquest Mortgage Co. 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.