AT&T Foundation Pledges $1 Million For American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program.

National and Business Editors

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2001

The following was released today by the American Red Cross:

-- AT&T Foundation Pledges $1 Million For American Red Cross Annual Disaster
Giving Program

-- Funds To Support Relief in United States and Abroad Including India Quake
Victims

The AT&T Foundation announced a $1 million pledge to the American Red Cross to support the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). The program helps to ensure that the American Red Cross has funding available when disasters strike, both here in the United States and abroad, including the recent disaster in Gujarat, India.

In response to the devastation in India, and recent earthquakes in El Salvador, AT&T is designating $50,000 of the $1 million pledge to the International Response Fund to support disaster relief efforts in these countries.

In addition, the AT&T Foundation will match dollar-for-dollar AT&T employee and retiree donations of $25 or more to the American Red Cross International Response Fund up to a total of $50,000.

"As American Red Cross relief workers travel to India to help earthquake survivors, 11 of their colleagues continue to help the thousands displaced by the violent seism in El Salvador. The American Red Cross combined relief assistance of cash, supplies and disaster relief experts represents an initial response to alleviate the human suffering caused by the earthquake in India," said Gerry Jones, vice president, American Red Cross International Services.

The $1,000,000 AT&T Foundation gift will be payable over a four-year period. The donation to the Annual Disaster Giving Program is the latest addition to the millions of dollars AT&T has given Red Cross projects in recent years. "AT&T has long admired the lifesaving work of the American Red Cross," said Timothy J. McClimon, executive director of the AT&T Foundation, in announcing today's grant. "We're glad we can be part of the new ADGP program to help the Red Cross spring into action quickly whenever disaster strikes and help so many people like those suffering right now in Gujarat. Our hearts go out to them."

About the AT&T Foundation:

The AT&T Foundation invests globally in projects that address a range of public concerns. Emphasis is placed on programs that serve the needs of people in communities where AT&T has a significant business presence; initiatives that use technology in innovative ways; and programs that AT&T employees are actively involved with as contributors and/or volunteers. Support is focused on the following program areas: Education, Civic & Community Service, and Arts & Culture. Application guidelines and/or biennial reports may be requested by contacting the Foundation at 32 Avenue of the Americas, 24th floor, New York, New York 10013. Additional information is available at Web site http://www.att.com/foundation.

About the American Red Cross:

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. To help the victims of this and other disasters, contributions can be made to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online credit card contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. A humanitarian service organization currently operating on a budget of $2.7 billion, the American Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 63,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. The American Red Cross also trains more than 11.7 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provides direct health services to 2.5 million people, provides more than 24 million locally relevant community services, assists international disaster and conflict victims in more than 50 countries, and transmits nearly 1.4 million emergency messages between members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Dr. Bernadine Healy is president and CEO of the American Red Cross.