The Manhattan Mortgage Company is celebrating eleven years as the sponsor of Opening Day at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, on August 27th in Bridgehampton, NY. As the kick-off to this weeklong event, Opening Day features the perfect recipe, blending horse show competition with shopping, eating and activities the whole family can enjoy.

The first day of the Hampton Classic is focused on the local community, which is one of the reasons Melissa Cohn, owner and founder (in 1985) of Manhattan Mortgage, chose this day. Ms. Cohn believes in giving back to the community that has supported her company for so many years.

Ms. Cohn’s support of worthy causes goes beyond the horse show arena. She continues to support beneficiaries that are meaningful to her, including many that are based in the Hamptons. These include the CDCH (Child Development Center of the Hamptons), The Retreat Domestic Violence Services and Habitat for Humanity. Cohn’s efforts have not gone unnoticed and over the years she has received numerous awards including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Award (2003), Lifetime Achievement Award by the Lighthouse for the Blind (2004), Builder of the Year Award from Habitat for Humanity (2004), the inaugural The Retreat Hope Award (2005) and most recently was recognized by the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) as a Woman of Action.

Also an avid horsewoman with a passion for horses and competition, Ms. Cohn will be among the many competitors vying for one of the coveted Hampton Classic ribbons to add to her past collection. She’ll also be entertaining guests in her chalet, and joining Executive Direction Shanette Barth to kick off the Opening Day festivities.

Manhattan Mortgage has eight offices in New York (Manhattan, Purchase, Croton-on-Hudson, Jericho, Westhampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton and Amagansett) and offices in Palm Beach, FL; Upper Montclair, NJ and Chester, VT. It is also licensed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, and California, and brokers loans in Colorado. The company presently has a staff of over 150 finance professionals, including more than 90 mortgage loan officers. It arranged over $3 billion worth of mortgage loans in 2005.

Ms. Cohn is looking forward to Manhattan Mortgage Opening Day. “The Hampton Classic is my favorite event of the year. I get to spend time with my friends - family - and business associates at the same time that I pursue my riding. It is the perfect ending to what has been a great summer. I look forward to the show this year and for many years to come.”

For more information about The Manhattan Mortgage Company call 888-593-4343 or visit their Web site: www.manhattanmortgage.com.