Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC

COLDWELL BANKER^® NAMES GRAND-PRIZE WINNERS OF THE THIRD ANNUAL "MY HOME: THE AMERICAN DREAM" CONTEST

National Survey Also Reveals that Adults and Children Agree on Key Components of the American Dream

PARSIPPANY, N.J., (February 4, 2008) –– The words "family," "love" and "memories" top the list of what makes a house a home for the more than 3,600 students who participated in the third annual Coldwell Banker "My Home: The American Dream" contest. Today, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, together with Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, announced that the three grand-prize winners – Jacob Barrett, a second grade student from Hooksett, N.H., Angie Gonzalez, a fifth grade student from Portland, Ore. and Joseph Salwen, a seventh grade student from Atlanta, Ga. have each been awarded $2,000 for their contest submissions. An additional prize of $250 was awarded to Lisa Bussell's first grade classroom from Clayton Elementary in Englewood, Colo. for their exceptional group effort.

In collaboration with Scholastic, the Coldwell Banker "My Home: The American Dream" contest invited students to share their personal stories – through images and words – about how their houses, apartments, or condominiums are not just structures in which they live, but homes where dreams are shared and memories are made. The record number of submissions were judged on their excellence in creativity, originality, and overall quality and effort. The grand-prize winners were selected from one of the three age categories: grades K-2; grades 3-5; and grades 6-8. In addition, 50 runners-up were selected from the overall group of submissions and will each be awarded a cash prize of $100.

The teachers of all four grand-prize winning entries will also each receive a new video camera for their classrooms, each valued at approximately $600.

"We were overwhelmed by the record number of submissions that we received for the My Home: The American Dream contest," said Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. "Each year we find it truly moving to experience the creative results of thousands of students, families and teachers working together to share their visions of what make a house a home."

In conjunction with the nationwide contest, the Coldwell Banker brand also conducted a phone survey of U.S. adults about the American dream and what "makes a house a home," to compare with the children's contest submissions. The vast majority of adult respondents, 92 percent, felt home ownership is extremely or somewhat important to their perception of living the "American dream."

Additional survey results included:

When asked what makes a house a home, the most popular responses from adults were: "family" (60 percent) and "love" (47 percent), followed by "family time." This matched the children's top three responses of "family," "love" and "memories," demonstrating that adults and children are aligned on the core values that make a house a home.

When looking for a new home with children in mind, 71 percent of adults felt safety of the neighborhood was important and 66 percent said a good school district was a priority.

"The survey findings echo what the Coldwell Banker organization has known for years—that people move for lifestyle reasons and children are an important factor in the decision," said Gillespie. "We recognize the importance of nurturing children in a safe, warm environment where memories can be filled with love."

Kindergarten to Grade Two

Jacob Barrett, Second Grade, Hooksett, N.H.

Jacob Barrett, a 7- year old second grader from Underhill School, won for his diorama, "My Special House." Made from popsicle sticks, styrofoam and construction paper, Jacob's creative piece of artwork and short essay expressed how his family and the simple things in life are what make his house a home.

Grades Three to Five

Angie Gonzalez, Fifth Grade, Portland, Ore.

Angie Gonzalez, a 10-year old fifth grader from Atkinson Elementary, won for her DVD submission describing her family's escape from Cuba in search of freedom and a better life in America. Using photographs and live video, Angie narrates her family's values in education, books, and art, stating that for her family, "education and fun go together." With the help of new friends, their only "family" in the United States, Angie's family built a home that she describes as her parent's dream come true. While her extended family still resides in Cuba, Angie is proud to be bilingual, with a rich heritage, and living the American Dream.

Grades Six to Eight

Joseph Salwen, Seventh Grade, Atlanta, Ga.

Joseph Salwen, a 13-year old seventh grader from Westminster Schools, won for his DVD submission. Joseph's family recognizes how fortunate they are to live the American dream and have created a charitable foundation designed to bring a piece of their dream to impoverished families in Africa.

Classroom

Lisa Bussell, First Grade, Englewood, Colo.

Lisa Bussell's first grade class from Clayton Elementary won in the "Classroom" category for their unique design and individuality. The collection of tree-house drawings were brought to life by their accompanying personal essays.

For more information on the contest or to view the winning entries visit "Side Door" on the Video Library at www.coldwellbanker.com.

The 50 Runners-Up

Name, Grade, School, City, State:

Raheela Ahsan, 6, The Hockaday School, Plano, Texas

Emily Allen, 4, Washington West Elementary, Olean, N.Y.

Katelyn Anderson, 1, North Harford Elem., Street, Md.

Jamie Araki, 3, Castaic Elementary, Castaic, Calif.

Aaron Baxter, 8, St Philip Neri School, Chicago, Ill.

Elijah Belcher, 8, Catalina Ventura, Phoenix, Ariz.

Brooke Braden, 7, Mary Putnan Henck Intermediate School, Lake Arrowhead, Calif.

Jasmine Burroughs, 2, Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia Beach, Va.

Judy Canfield, K, Kiddie University, Lakewood, N.J.

Evan Carhart, 4, Palmcroft Elementary, Yuma, Ariz.

Dalton Casey, 1, Eaton Elementary, Eaton, Colo.

Lucy Crelli, 7, St Bede, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Liam Dunlap, 2, Wedgwood, Seattle, Wash.

Erin Fitzgerald, 5, Highland Elementary, Lake Stevens, Wash.

Addie Gannon, 4, Carlisle Elementary, Delaware, Ohio

Alexa Gillman, 4, Holmes Elementary, Oak Park, Ill.

Douglas Griffin, 2, Wakefield Country Day School, Broad Run, Va.

Kiley Hajek, 5, South Butler Intermediate School, Butler, Pa.

Cecelia Harris-Maxwell, 1, Midlakes Primary, Phelps, N.Y.

Max Hassforth, 1, Fairview, Milwaukee, Wis.

Audrey Haugh, 1, Glendale Elementary, Shakopee, Minn.

Hanna Hernandez, 5, Bright Future Int'l. & Academy for Int'l Studies, Loxahatchee, Fla.

Kimberly Huang, 7, Thurston Middle School, Westwood, Mass.

Rebekah Kimball, 3, Gold Street School, Yreka, Calif.

Becca Kysar, 3, Castaic Elementary, Castaic, Calif.

Allison LaBrot, K, Franklin Elementary, Metropolis, Ill.

Brandee Lawler, 8, Catalina Ventura, Phoenix, Ariz.

Leah Mernaugh, 7, Pioneer Middle School, Steilacoom, Wash.

Kerstin Morris, 7, Fannin Middle, Blue Ridge, Ga.

Lilyann Nguyen, 5, Cathedral, Harrisburg, Pa.

Morgan Panzenhagen, 1, Greenville Elementary, Appleton, Wis.

Jacob Pearlman, 3, Castaic Elementary, Castaic, Calif.

Taraya Peterson, 8, Wilmington Christiana School, Newark, Del.

Justin Phillips, 5, Van Buren, Findlay, Ohio

Hannah Quinton, 8, Fannin County Middle, Morganton, Ga.

Bailey Ratner, 5, Blattman Elementary, San Antonio, Texas

Mariah Rock, 6, St Catherine, Columbus, Ohio

Tania Rodriguez, 1, School #18 , Patterson, N.J.

Katie Rust, 5, Homeschooled, White Bluff, Tenn.

Mikael Sampson, 3, Pharr Elementary, Lawrenceville, Ga.

Cole Scadden, 5, Dana Middle School, San Diego, Calif.

Anna Shirosky, 7, Philip Coahley Middle School, Norwood, Mass.

Isaac Shives, 1, Homeschooled, Lebanon, Pa.

Kaitlen Smith, 8, Catalina Ventura, Phoenix, Ariz.

Ameya Tillaye, 3, Marengo Elementary, S. Pasadena, Calif.

Kayley Tuchek, 6, Ridgeway Elementary, Ridgeway, Iowa

Mubashra Uddin, 5, Walt Disney Magnet School, Chicago, Ill.

Chris Wall, 8, Academy of Int'l Studies, N Palm Beach, Fla.

Owen Westbrooks, K, Franklin Elementary, Metropolis, Ill.

Casey Williams, 4, Festus Intermediate, Festus, Mo.

My Home American Dream Contest Winners Announced