$5+ BOOSTER CLUB FOUNDED, GENERAL MOTORS SHOWS SUPPORT

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA--(1 December, 1997)-- General Motors Corporation has made another contribution of $1,000 to kick off the ASL Ranch's latest fundraising drive. This announcement was made during DEAF EXPO '97 in November.

The '$5+ Booster Club' was launched to raise $50,000 needed to meet the first step of a nationwide fundraising campaign for the 'ASL RANCH', a project of EF Training Center, Inc., parent organization of DEAF EXPO.

The goal of ASL Ranch is 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. About $2 million is needed to accomplish this goal.

During DEAF EXPO '97, held at Fairplex in Pomona, CA over the November 14-16, 1997 weekend, a new 10-minute videotape was shown at the ASL Ranch display. In this videotape, narrator Jeff Lubman explains that the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community does not necessarily have to raise the whole $2 million but "the Deaf Community needs to show their support by donating whatever they can afford ... no matter how much money ... once we reach $50,000 then we can approach foundations and indicate that we have $50,000 in our pockets and request matching funds from these foundations and corporations". Lubman spoke in sign language on this video which also has voice-over and was open-captioned by Kaleidoscope TV. It is available on a loan basis to any group who pays a refundable $25 deposit.

The donation from General Motors Corporation was presented by Mary Anne Meade, GM Mobility Manager to David Rosenbaum, EFTC president and it marks their second contribution to the ASL Ranch. In November, 1994, General Motors was the first corporation to make a contribution to start the ASL Ranch project which was founded in memory of Rick Rogers, one of EFTC's founding board members. ASL Ranch had been his dream.

$5+ Booster Club
Over eighty people made contributions during DEAF EXPO '97. An announcement was also made of a one hundred dollar contribution from the Los Angeles Center of the Deaf (LACD). Anybody who makes a contribution of at least five dollars will have their name written on an 'ASL Ranch triangle decal' which will be displayed at DEAF EXPO '98. Your name will also be added to the ASL Ranch Name Scroll that is printed in the national DEAF USA publication.

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.

To mail your contribution, please make payment payable to 'ASL RANCH' and mail to the attention of Linda Cummings, ASL Ranch Project Coordinator, 7712 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91605-2815. Upon receiving your donation, we will mail you an Acknowledgement of Donation.