Media Releases

RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2006

CONTACT:
Greg Berkemer
(760) 346-5637
(Media Only) John Hussar
PRNewsWorks (760) 567-8073

Desert REALTORS® Raise $40,000 For Scholarships at Fashion Show

PALM DESERT (Calif.) - The California Desert Association of REALTORS® raised about $40,000 for its high school scholarship program at a first-ever fashion show, "Cool Calypso, Hot Fashions."

The July 20 fundraiser at The Lodge at Rancho Mirage drew about 430 for a fun-filled night watching two dozen men and women Realtors strut down the runway showing off summer fashions.

Also among the "models" were 10 of the 16 area high school seniors who received scholarships earlier this year.

"This is why we have these events because the kids work so hard in school and we are proud of the real estate community for their support," said Desiree Otero, president of the California Desert Association of REALTORS®.

She said 100 percent of the net proceeds will go directly to the Scholarship Fund. The funds, along with monies raised at the California Desert Association of REALTORS® ,will be used for scholarships for next year's high school seniors as well as for students at College of the Desert and California State College, San Bernardino satellite campus in Palm Desert.

Otero, along with chair Sandra Schwab and co-chair Tamara Stafiniak, led a large committee which organized the show.

The clothes were donated by Peter Satiriou of DOT, Don Puccio of Don Vincent, Kathy Hubbard of Old Navy, Johnny Anderson of Tommy Bahama, and designer Trina Turk of Trina Turk.

As a surprise gift, the students got to keep their clothes, thanks to the generosity of Kathleen Buys of Southland Title, a member of the real estate board for 30 years and a long-time supporter of the Scholarship Fund.

The sponsors of the fashion show included the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, AKA Appraisals, Aqua Sun Ozone International, Coldwell Banker Residential, Equity Title, Pat Fredericks of First Team Becker & Becker, Torsten Leines of Franklin Loan Center, Oasis Escrow, Prudential California Realty, SanDent Corporation, Kathleen Buys of Southland Title, The Desert Sun, Ken Agee of Washington Mutual and West Coast Escrow of Palm Springs.

In April, The California Desert Association of REALTORS® awarded $1,000 each to 16 seniors from 9 public Coachella Valley high schools, proceeds from the 2005 Scholarship Golf Tournament. Students are selected on the basis of academic achievement and desire to continue their college education.

Greg Berkemer, executive vice president of The California Desert Association of REALTORS®, said the Scholarship Fund will expand to future high schools built throughout the Coachella Valley.

The California Desert Association of REALTORS®, The Voice for Real Estate® for the Coachella Valley, represents more than 4,000 estate professionals from Palm Springs to Coachella.

For more information, please call (760) 346-5637 or visit online at www.CalDesertRealtors.com