18,500 Will Rise to the 25th Annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge(R); Proceeds from 3.5-Mile Run/Walk To Benefit YMCA Program for Youth in Englewood.

CHICAGO -- A record 18,500 employees from hundreds of Chicago-area businesses are expected to compete in the 25th Annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Grant Park today, Thursday, May 25. Registration for this year's race is up 19% over last year.

The 3.5-mile race will take off from Columbus Drive south of Balbo at 7:15 p.m. - to avoid rush hour - and the friendly competition will be followed by several hours of post-race partying at the Grant Park staging area.

"The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge has been a popular summer event for Chicago corporations for more than two decades," said William M. Daley, Midwest Chairman of JPMorgan Chase. "The race helps companies promote employee fitness and teamwork and has attracted more participants each year."

The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge began in Chicago in 1982 with 1,200 runners and walkers from 98 companies. Over the past 24 years, the event has become an annual ritual for many companies. Last year, 15,495 workers from 448 businesses - ranging from entry-level workers to CEOs and COOs -- competed in the 3.5-mile run/walk.

All entrants must be part of a corporate team, with a minimum of four people. Serious racers, joggers and walkers are all welcome.

Youth in Englewood to benefit

For each person who enters the race, JPMorgan Chase will make a donation to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago to support the Community School program at Libby School in Englewood.

The Libby Community School provides both academic and socialization support for 75 to 100 youth from kindergarten through eighth grade. It consists of after-school academic assistance and hands-on learning activities during the school year and a day camp during the summer months. The program also brings community resources into the school to provide health fairs, social activities, grocery distribution and other services to benefit the youth and their parents.

"We invest in our children because they are the future," Daley said.

Winners compete in NYC championship

The fastest men's, women's and mixed teams will be invited to the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship(R) in New York on October 7. In 2005, General Electric (men's and mixed teams) and CNA (women) represented Chicago.

If a company's employees are not fleet of foot, they can still make it to the awards stage if they're creative. JPMorgan Chase will make a donation to a charity of choice on behalf of the three companies that design the most creative company T-shirts. Ariel Capital Management, Perseco and Zurich submitted the winning entries in 2005.

Companies that have registered can get the latest race information by visiting [e-mail] or calling [phone]. The entry fee is $25 per individual and all entries must be part of a corporate team.

The Chicago event is part of the 12-city, six-country, and five-continent JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series, which in 2006 will feature more than 200,000 participants from over 7,000 companies. Collectively, JPMorgan Chase will donate more than $500,000 to worthy not-for-profit organizations through these events.

About JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) provides a wide range of financial services to Chicago corporations, including commercial and investment banking, and serves Chicago consumers and small businesses through more than 330 Chase bank branches and more than 1,200 ATMs.

JPMorgan Chase is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $1.3 trillion and operations in more than 50 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset and wealth management, and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its JPMorgan and Chase brands. Information about the firm is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.