RENTON, Wash., June 2, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Are rising mortgage or rent payments and high gas prices causing you pain? Classmates.com (www.classmates.com), a leader in social networking, today announced it is providing America with opportunities for economic relief. Everyone who visits Classmates.com/Win (www.classmates.com/win) or Classmates.com and adds or updates a photo to their free profile today through August 3, 2008 will be entered to win in the Classmates.com Mortgage & Gas Giveaway. Ten members will win a $30,000 check to help pay their mortgage or housing for one year and 100 people will win $500 gas cards to help ease their pain at the pump.
"In a recent poll, our members told us that rising gas and housing prices are a growing concern. They would really appreciate some relief. Now when you post a photo on your Classmates profile you could have your mortgage paid for a year or win $500 in gas to give you more reasons to smile," said Greg Ott, senior vice president of marketing for Classmates Online, Inc. "New mortgage and gas winners will be drawn every week, so the sooner you add a photo to your Classmates profile the more chances you have to win. And adding a profile photo is also a great way to revive connections - another thing that makes people feel better during tough economic times."
Results from the Classmates.com Mortgage and Gas Poll include:
* 79% of respondents have made changes to their spending habits
because of the economy.
* 73% of respondents said their housing expenses have increased
in the past year.
* 71% of respondents drive less because gas is expensive.
* 68% of respondents said they would be worried about being able
to afford to stay in their home or apartment if they lost their
job for a year or more.
* Monthly housing expenses in the past year:
* Increased $1,000 per-month for 3% of respondents.
* Increased $1,000-$500 per-month for 14% of respondents.
* Increased $500-$300 per-month for 26% of respondents
* Increased $300-$100 per-month for 44% of respondents.
About Classmates Online, Inc.
Classmates Online, Inc., founded in 1995 and based in Renton, WA, is a leader in social networking. The company operates Classmates.com (www.classmates.com), connecting millions of members throughout the U.S. and Canada with friends and acquaintances from school, work and the military. Its Classmates International subsidiary also operates leading social networking sites in Germany and Austria through StayFriends GmbH (www.stayfriends.de and www.stayfriends.at, respectively), in Sweden through Klasstraffen Sweden AB (www.stayfriends.se), and in France through Trombi Acquisition SARL (www.trombi.com)." Classmates Online is a subsidiary of Classmates Media Corporation, which is wholly-owned by United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq:UNTD). For more information about United Online and its Internet subscription services, please visit www.untd.com.
The Classmates Online, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1385