'The 52 Faces of Safety;' CTIA Announces Winners of the 2001 VITA Wireless Samaritan Awards; National Wireless Safety Week, May 21st - 27th, 2001.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2001

Every day across America, people with wireless phones save lives, stop crimes and give heroic support in emergencies.

From America's streets and highways, to our schools and playgrounds, people with wireless phones make millions of calls that help make our communities safer.

In celebration of National Wireless Safety Week, CTIA and its member companies take pride in announcing the 2001 VITA Wireless Samaritan Award Winners. These are individuals who with the aid of their wireless phone stopped a crime, assisted a neighbor or saved a loved one.

"It's with great pride and admiration, CTIA and the wireless industry honors each VITA winner for their heroic act of courage," stated CTIA president & CEO Tom Wheeler. "Each riveting story reminds us that wireless phones really do save lives. We salute this year's winners who with quick thinking and their wireless phone have saved a life or assisted in an emergency."

Every day, over 140,000 calls are placed to emergency services from wireless phones - amounting to close to 100 calls per minute. As part of Wireless Safety Week, the wireless industry is encouraging the American public to make a difference by using their wireless phones to help others.

The VITA Wireless Samaritan Awards are given annually to individuals from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These winners' actions exemplify the importance of putting safety first, as well as the important role individuals using their wireless phones play in emergency situations.

The CTIA Wireless Foundation will honor this year's winners at the 2001 Achievement Awards Dinner on June 5th at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. VITA award winners were selected by a national panel of judges comprised of law enforcement and emergency response professionals.

CTIA is celebrating National Wireless Safety Week by profiling the "Faces of Safety." Each day an important aspect of safety will be highlighted along with a wireless hero who assisted by their wireless phone, stopped a crime, assisted a neighbor or saved a loved one.

In the coming days look for the stories of Joseph Egan (Crime Prevention Day), Five-Year-Old Brandon Pope (Personal Protection Day), Rebecca and George Garton (Driver Safety Day), Steven Wayne Elmore (Impaired Driver Prevention Day), Kay Brooks (Disaster Relief Day) and Erica Richardson (School Safety Day).

CTIA is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, representing all elements of wireless communications. The CTIA Wireless Foundation supports programs that address some of our country's greatest challenges through creative applications of wireless technology. http://www.wow-com.com