ADVISORY/This Mother's Day Honor Mom With a Donation to the VFW to Help the Troops Call Home; Make a Donation in Mom's Name and Receive a Special Mother's Day Card.

Feature Editors

ADVISORY...

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2003

On Mother's Day, every mom wants to hear from her child. In fact, Mother's Day is the highest call volume day of the year.

But for some moms, a simple phone call may not be possible this year. These are the moms of nearly one million U.S. troops who are still deployed around the world today.

That's why -- on this Mother's Day -- SBC Communications and the Veterans of Foreign Wars are calling on America to give a unique gift that will help unite thousands of mothers and family members separated because of overseas military service.

This year, you can honor your mother, and mothers everywhere, by making a donation in your mother's name to the VFW's Operation Uplink program, which provides troops with free calling cards -- the No. 1 item most frequently requested by military personnel.

After making a donation, contributors have the option of printing out a Mother's Day card to let mom know the special way in which she's been remembered on her special day. Donations are accepted in any amount. Each prepaid Operation Uplink international calling card provides at least 30 minutes of talk time.

Donating is simple. Visit www.sbc.com and click on the American flag. This SBC initiative is an example of corporate America working to support and encourage service men and women called to active military duty. Last month, SBC companies donated $250,000 to the VFW to fund thousands of Operation Uplink calling cards for troops, and launched a public service campaign encouraging additional donations on behalf of the VFW.