MISS DEAF AMERICA TO ASSIST WITH FUNDRAISING

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA - (13 November, 2000) - WorldCom Global Relay has become the latest corporation to contribute $2,000 to kick off this year's capital gains fundraising campaign for the ASL Ranch Project during Deaf Expo 2000 taking place at the Long Beach Convention Center this weekend.

Lauren Teruel, crowned Miss Deaf America during the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) biennial convention in Norfolk, Virginia last July, will accept the WorldCom donation on behalf of the ASL Ranch Project, spearheaded by EF Training Center, Inc., the parent organization of Deaf Expo™, who has embarked on the first phase of this long-term fundraising project to purchase permanent semi-urban property to be designated as a year-round convention and tournament facility specifically designed for Deaf and hard of hearing patrons. This property would be located in Southern California and adjacent to a major freeway.

Although $2 million is needed to complete this project, organizers say they need to raise $50,000 as the first step of a concerted effort. This first step would enable them to approach corporate and public foundations for matching monies and challenge grants. WorldCom's support follows the second donation made by General Motors Corporation to the ASL Ranch project which was founded in memory of Rick Rogers, one of EFTC's founding board members. ASL Ranch had been his lifelong dream.

All contributions to the ASL Ranch are directed to a specific account that has been established for this purpose. All donations are tax-deductible under federal regulations governing 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. Interested persons can obtain additional information on the many different ways to support this project by contacting the ASL Ranch Project Coordinator, 7712 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91605-2815.