Photo Paint question

You all are probably pros.  I am definitely not.  I do a newsletter for our country club and want to put a picture of our club at the top with a gradient fade out at the bottom.  I've searched everywhere in Photo Paint and can't find anything which would allow me to do this.  Under effects, creative, I've found "frame" and "vignette" which will allow me to do some sort of effects, but not what I'm looking for.  Any suggestions?  Are there other programs which I can buy that would accomplish the same thing????

Any help would be monstrously appreciated.  Thanks so much.

Donna