Press Releases

SAMCAR Presents Awards to Winners of HomeWords™ Essay Contest

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --

San Mateo, CA - Three students from Vallemar School in Pacifica took the top three spots in the middle school division of the HomeWords(tm) essay contest. The contest is part of the 2006 HomeWords™ program sponsored by the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) in partnership with the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Eighth graders Amanda Balomaga, Katherine Yin and Fred Gutierrez were the top winners for their essays, which were titled "What is your American Dream?" They received cash awards from SAMCAR and certificates of achievement from the San Francisco Chronicle. Balomaga received first place and a $100 cash award for her essay, which related how her parents, immigrants from the Philippines, worked hard for many years to achieve the "American Dream" of owning their own home. Yin, the second place winner, received $75, for her essay, which stated the "American Dream" need not be one particular achievement, but can be anything or many things to an individual. Gutierrez received third place and a $50 cash award. His essay was about how he regarded his home as a safe haven, where he can feel secure with his family and relax from everyday stress he experiences in the outside world, especially pressure from classmates and schoolwork. Vallemar eighth grade teacher Allison Leshefsky also received $100 as the teacher of first place winner Balomaga.

SAMCAR Executive Director Janet Case and 2006 SAMCAR Board Director Sue Vaterlaus (RE/MAX Dolphin Real Estate), who is a resident of Pacifica, presented the students their cash awards and certificates. Case congratulated the students for their accomplishments and spoke of the importance of the "American Dream."

"Congratulations for doing just a great job on your essays. It's important to have the 'American Dream' and all Americans hope to achieve it. For many, this means owning your own home and it is the goal of the San Mateo County Association of Realtors® to help everybody achieve the dream of buying your own home," Case said.

HomeWords™ is a newspaper-based educational program created by the Los Angeles Times and sponsored by C.A.R. and Fannie Mae®. SAMCAR is a HomeWords™ regional sponsor. This sponsorship provides classroom sets of newspapers once a week for several weeks to participating teachers and students to use in their lessons. As part of the HomeWords™ curriculum, students consider the differences between what they want and what they need, particularly with respect to buying, selling, or renting a home; understand how location plays a part in the cost of a home; learn how their behavior with money could affect their lifestyles and ability to become homeowners in the years to come; and learn about the choices and trade-offs that are made when cities try to meet housing objectives while addressing concerns about growth. The curriculum has been developed to incorporate language arts skills in line with California's educational standards.

Left to right: Vallemar eighth grade teacher Allison Leshefsky, SAMCAR CEO Janet Case, SAMCAR Board Director Sue Vaterlaus and first place winner Amanda Balomaga. - Image 1 of 3

Left to right: Vallemar eighth grade teacher Allison Leshefsky, SAMCAR CEO Janet Case, SAMCAR Board Director Sue Vaterlaus and third place winner Fred Gutierez. - Image 2 of 3

Left to right: Vallemar eighth grade teacher Allison Leshefsky, SAMCAR CEO Janet Case, SAMCAR Board Director Sue Vaterlaus and second place winner Katherine Yin. - Image 3 of 3

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The San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 3,800 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula. SAMCAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in San Mateo County.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

For further information, please contact Julie Ziemelis, Director of Public Affairs, e-mail , or phone (650) 696-8214.

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