100 Black Men of America Inc. Selects Edelman Public Relations Worldwide as Agency of Record for 'Miracles of Mentoring Campaign'; Agency to Support $35 Million Campaign.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 1999--

100 Black Men of America, Inc. (100 BMOA) announced the selection of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide/Atlanta to manage national public relations efforts for the three-year "Miracles of Mentoring Campaign."

Additionally, Richard Edelman, President and CEO of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide has been named to the "Miracles of Mentoring Campaign" committee. "The Miracles of Mentoring Campaign" seeks to raise $35 million in funds to expand the 100 BMOA programming, extend its reach to more young people and communities, and strengthen its organizational capacity at both the national and local chapter levels.

"We chose Edelman because of its global reach and outstanding track record for excellence,de: Joseph J. Grano, Jr., President of PaineWebber Inc.; James P. Kelly, Chairman and CEO of UPS; Philip H. Knight, Chairman and CEO of Nike, Inc.; John F. Smith, Jr., Chairman and CEO of General Motors Corp and Natalie Cole (who will serve as honorary chair of the campaign).

"Edelman respects and fully supports the efforts of the 100 Black Men of America," said Rennie J Truitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide/Atlanta. "We are very excited about our involvement in this three-year campaign for such a worthwhile and important effort."

The "Miracles of Mentoring Campaign" seeks to raise $35 million by the year 2001. Funds raised will be allocated to 100 BMOA chapter projects related to initiatives in four strategic service areas: support for local chapter facilities and operations; national headquarter projects related to improving the national office facility; establishing the National Mentoring and Leadership Institute in Georgia, dedicated to training chapter members and the students with whom they work; and scholarship endowment for students in need of financial support. Additional information about the campaign is available through the 100 Black Men of America, Inc.'s Website at www.100blackmen.org.

In the past year, Edelman Public Relations Worldwide/Atlanta experienced phenomenal growth -- doubling its staff, client roster and revenue, and expansion of practice areas. In 1999, Edelman/Atlanta experienced its most profitable year since the office was established in 1994.

Edelman/Atlanta's clients include Allstate, the American Physical Society, Children's Wish Foundation International, Eckerd Corporation, Georgia Pacific, The Home Depot, NCR Corporation's Retail Solutions Group, Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., Warner Home Video and UPS.

Founded in 1952, Edelman Public Relations Worldwide (www.edelman.com) is the world's largest independently owned full-service public relations agency. An industry pioneer, Edelman Worldwide has shaped many of the practices now standard in the public relations industry. Ranked fifth among worldwide public relations agencies, Edelman is the only privately held, independent public relations firm among the top 10 worldwide.

Today, more than 1,600 Edelman employees in 39 offices provide services to clients around the world. Edelman has U.S. offices in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New York, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. In addition, Edelman offices around the world provide client services in all the international business centers in Canada, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America.