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ERA® REAL ESTATE BRINGS HOPE TO INNER CITY TEENS IN THE WILD WILD WEST Parsippany, NJ (August 9, 1999) – For twelve youths from San Diego, the "Wild Wild West" will be much more than a summer action movie. Thanks to an unique pilot outreach effort and the generosity of ERA Real Estate and its affiliates, they will learn to ride the range, scale a mountain and brave the wilderness as guests at the Bootstrap Ranch High School in Bozeman, Montana. But these fortunate teenagers will not just be enjoying a challenging vacation from August 16-22th. They will be among the first in the country to preview a unique educational opportunity that may have a dramatic impact on their futures. Dubbed "Inner City Goes West," the outreach launches the school's nationwide search for young people, 14-16 years old, who are currently enrolled in school but are not flourishing due to family, environment, social and economic pressures. The search is targetting teens from families with limited financial means who can best benefit from its tuition-free educational program. The only school of its kind in the U.S., Bootstrap Ranch is a year-round residential community, where challenging outdoor physical experiences play a vital role in an innovative, highly personalized approach to the teaching of academic, life, and service skills. The outreach program, which begins in California, was spearheaded by Robyn Erlenbush, whose company, ERA Landmark Real Estate of Bozeman, is leading a local effort to raise awareness of the Bootstrap Ranch High School. It was Erlenbush who conceived the marriage between ERA Real Estate, the Inner City Games of Greater San Diego and the Bootstrap Ranch. "As a corporate sponsor of the Inner City Games Foundation, we at ERA Real Estate are proud to be part of this worthy effort," Peter Burgdorff, President and CEO explains. "Robyn Erlenbush, her team at ERA Landmark and ERA brokers in San Diego have been instrumental in bringing this project to life. In doing so, we all hope to make a difference in the lives of these children." "Inner City Goes West" is being jointly underwritten by ERA Franchise Systems LLC, Cendant Corporation, ERA Landmark Real Estate of Bozeman, MT and ERA Eagle Estates of San Diego, CA. The twelve children were chosen by the Inner City Games Foundation, following a city-wide essay contest. Finalists were then individually interviewed prior to final selection. If successful, the Inner City Games Foundation's involvement with the ranch could be extended to chapters throughout the nation. Founded in 1998, Bootstrap Ranch High School helps students with unrealized potential commit to trading negative behaviors and problems in their homes, schools and communities for the positive rewards of a rigorous, individualized academic and physical program experienced under the "Big Sky" of Montana. "Students live here throughout the year and are taught to respect themselves and their environment, cultivate innate talents and develop academic capabilities," said Terry Profota, Bootstrap's executive director. "In addition to obtaining a diploma, students learn the importance of responsibility, trust and cooperation, healthy relationships, diversity and service – not only to themselves – but to the community." Working with middle and senior high school administrators, counselors and teachers, community groups and social service organizations across the country, the Bootstrap Ranch staff is aiming to identify promising prospective students who will benefit from their educational scholarships. Students ultimately chosen will be those from different ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds who are most motivated to succeed, both in academics and in life. ERA Franchise Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD), is a leader in the residential real estate industry with over 25 years experience in developing consumer-oriented products and services. The ERA Real Estate network includes more than 2,600 independently owned and operated brokerage offices with more than 28,000 brokers and sales associates throughout the United States and 19 other countries and territories. ERA is available to consumers on the Internet at www.era.com.
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