ADVISORY/LA's BEST Partners with Non-Profit Group, Words Can Heal, to Launch Program to Reduce Verbal Violence and Gossip.

Business Editors & Education Writers

ADVISORY...for Saturday (Jan. 25)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Character Education Program to be Introduced at Ninth Annual LA's BEST
Community Jam Against Violence Event


WHAT: Ninth Annual LA's BEST Community Jam Against Violence featuring
      special guest host Peter Bergman, the Words Can Heal performers
      and celebrity guests. More than 1,800 Los Angeles area youth and
      residents come together to rally against the violence that
      impacts their communities. Children from 24 LA's BEST elementary
      school sites will participate in the 2003 Community Jam, which
      features a talent showcase of singing, dancing, acting and
      poetry recitation - all with the theme of decrying violence.
      Comedian / radio commentator Peter Bergman will host the show
      from fictional K-BEST radio set, with help from LA's BEST
      students. Children from more than a dozen additional LA's BEST
      sites will cheer on their peers from the balcony section.

      LA's BEST - the after school enrichment program for elementary
      school children in underserved areas throughout the City of Los
      Angeles - will also launch a groundbreaking new program to
      reduce verbal abuse, bullying and malicious rumors in
      partnership with Words Can Heal, a non-profit organization that
      is leading a national education campaign designed to reduce
      verbal violence and gossip at home, school and in the community.
      This acclaimed character education program will be launched at
      the Community Jam with a special performance by the Words Can
      Heal touring musical group. In the weeks following the Jam, the
      Words Can Heal character education program will be implemented
      at all 105 LA's BEST sites throughout the City of Los Angeles.

WHO: 1800+ LA's BEST children, family and friends
     Special Guest Host Peter Bergman
     Words Can Heal performers
     Edward James Olmos
     Elisa Donovan from Sabrina the Teenage Witch

WHEN: Saturday, January 25, 2003
      9 to 11 a.m.

WHERE: UCLA Royce Hall, Westwood Boulevard Parking Kiosk
       (Parking Lot 4)

PHOTO OPS: -- Hundreds of LA's BEST students, ages 5 to 12,
              demonstrating talent in singing, dancing, acting and
              poetry recitation, with each act focusing on reducing
              violence in Los Angeles.
           -- K-BEST on-stage radio set featuring special guest Peter
              Bergman as "station manager" working with LA's BEST
              children as "on air talent."
           -- 1800+ event participants taking Words Can Heal pledge
              together to reduce harsh words, verbal abuse in schools.

BACKGROUND: Verbal violence and gossip is an epidemic in U.S. school
            systems. According to the National Education Association,
            over 160,000 children skip school each day because of
            intimidation by their peers. Nearly 90 percent of
            Americans say it is important to reduce gossip and verbal
            abuse in schools, workplaces and within families. The
            Words Can Heal educational program creates awareness and
            educational tools to help children be a part of the
            solution to youth violence by establishing, for example,
            gossip free zones encouraging students to reduce harsh
            words and malicious rumors.
SOURCE: LA's BEST