ADVISORY/Power to Express Your Space Day Expands From Neighborhoods to National in Wake of Terrorist Actions.

News Editors

ADVISORY...

HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2001

In light of Tuesday's events centering on the World Trade Center in New York, 250+ currently planned youth gatherings organized to express hopes and fears about neighborhood violence will expand to include the recent national disaster. Power to Express Your Space Day scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15, will now offer people the opportunity to connect with their communities and express themselves through discussion and art.

The main organizer of the event is SHiNE, a national non-profit agency. SHiNE is a leading national advocate and voice of Generation Y. Its mission is to engage and empower young people to impact their world in positive ways. Working specifically in the areas of art, music, technology and sports, SHiNE engages young people through in-school lessons, speak outs, contests, celebrity events and art projects like Express Your Space Day so they can come together and express issues that are important.

Sakura of America, a national art materials company, donated $500,000 in retail value of Cray-Pas(R) oil pastels as the main art medium for the sidewalk murals. Other sponsors include Carson Pirie and Power Up! who are actively involved in distribution and event execution.

If people are interested in participating in Power to Express Your Space Day, they can go to Sakura's website at http://www.gellyroll.com/teen/shine/shine_locations.html where they can find an alphabetized list by state for the location nearest them. They can also call SHiNE's offices at 212/871-0865 or e-mail them at [e-mail] where they can get more information on the location nearest them.

"Express Your Space Day gives young people an opportunity to be creative and literally draw their community together," stated Donna Wilson, director of Marketing for Sakura of America. She added, "SHiNE is a strong organization with the network in place to make this a reality. Sakura of America employees are proud to be supporting SHiNE's efforts."

SHiNE's website, www.shine.com, provides a comprehensive focal point for SHiNE activities, with opportunities to display artwork, share opinions, discuss news topics and access information on important youth services organization.

SHiNE is the youth component of the White House National Campaign Against Youth Violence. More than 100 celebrities have endorsed the SHiNE program, including N'Sync, Ricky Martin, Muhammad Ali, The Barenaked Ladies, Kevin Spacey, Denzel Washington and Rosie O'Donnell. Further information is available at www.shine.com.

Headquartered in Hayward, Sakura of America is the U.S. subsidiary of privately held Sakura Color Products Corp. of Osaka, Japan. Besides making Cray-Pas oil pastels and Gelly Roll(R) gel pens, Sakura manufactures many other high-quality writing instruments and art materials.