Foundation Is Awarded Trademark

ALISO VIEJO, CA, April 19, 2006 – This week the industry’s largest grant program for real estate agents, The Real Estate Apprentice® Grant Program, announced that it was rapidly approaching its 10,000^th application. According to Stefan Swanepoel, Executive Director of the Foundation, “sponsorships are at an all time high and with $1,000,000 in grants available for 2006, an estimated 5,000 newly licensed agents are expected to benefit from this program this year.

This announcement coincided with the Foundation (www.realestateapprentice.org) receiving approval for its Trademark application for The Real Estate Apprentice® this week. This follows a two year battle with objections from numerous parties including none other than Mark Burnett, the creator of two  hit shows on NBC; ‘Survivor’ and ‘The Apprentice’.

However, the Real Estate Apprentice® Grant Program is a far cry from the TV glitz and glamour. It is based on true, live reality: Making it as a Real Estate Professional. Formed in 2004 the Real Estate Apprentice® Foundation is a unique, nationwide one-of-a-kind Public Benefits Corporation designed to introduce the apprenticeship concept and best practice strategies at no cost to new and inexperienced rookie real estate agents. 

Grant awards are sponsored by leading companies serving the real estate industry that desire to impact the growth of the industry. Companies with vision that understand that these new agents are the future of the industry and that everyone should invest in tomorrow to make it a better place. “One of our main goals is to raise the standards of professionalism among new agents by awarding quality real estate education, products and services to deserving rookies. We look for applicants who seem to possess the heart and hunger of a top performing real estate agent,” said Swanepoel. 

At the outset of world history, the concept of apprenticeship has been the most familiar and successful training tool known to mankind. Thousands of educational concepts & styles have come and gone but apprenticeship, with legendary examples such as Michelangelo, Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci and modern time legends likr Frank Lloyd Wright – who all actively utilized the apprenticeship concept – leave us stunned with their spectacular contributions in the field of art and architecture. Apprenticeships are now growing in popularity and available in more than 500 occupations and in the following industries:

Education through the apprenticeship concept can be unparalleled in its long-term effect and spectacular end-results.

Companies contributing to helping agents succeed include: First American Residential Group – a division of the First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF), Hobbs/Herder – advertising and design, iSucceed – real estate productivity enhancement, eNeighborhoods – community information, McLean International – technology and systems consulting, Thomson – real estate books, Calculated Industries – calculators and measuring devices, CreateAPlan – business planning systems, Real Estate Simulator – career assessment software, ExpressCopy - online printing, The Real Estate CyberSpace Society – online technology association, RISMedia and Broker Agent News – both real estate news services, Saris Technologies – agent software, VisualTour – home tours, The Real Estate Professional Society, Seller Agency Council – provider of the Accredited Seller Representative® designation, CourseDates.com – the most effect real estate course search engine, and RealtyU® – real estate school network.