American Express campaign helps drive holiday sales for retailers while fighting hunger in the United States; Thousands of merchants throughout the country participating in Charge Against Hunger.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 1995--How do businesses help solve a problem that touches their communities, rally employee support, involve customers--and make a profit--during the competitive holiday shopping season?

One answer is to create cause-related partnerships with other businesses that are easy to execute and impactful.

What makes American Express' Charge Against Hunger so effective is the simplicity with which merchants and Cardmembers can get involved and contribute. Each time an American Express(R) Card is used to make a purchase between November 1 and December 31, American Express will donate three cents to Share Our Strength, one of the nation's largest anti-hunger organizations, up to $5 million.

Throughout the country, retailers from clothing stores such as Century 21 in New York and specialty stores such as Wilkes Bashford in San Francisco, to entire shopping districts such as Boston's Newbury Street, are participating in record numbers in American Express and Share Our Strength's Charge Against Hunger campaign. The reason? It is good for business.

In a survey conducted by Leo J. Shapiro and Associates for the Second Harvest National Food Bank Network, 82 percent of respondents said that if they knew that a particular company was making a large donation to hunger relief, they would be encouraged to buy their products. In addition, according to a recent consumer holiday survey from American Express, 72 percent of consumers expected to make a charitable donation this holiday season.

By using the American Express Card, consumers automatically help provide meals for people who are hungry. At the end of the campaign, Share Our Strength will distribute the funds raised in the form of grants to some 250 organizations working to fight hunger in communities across the country.

The Charge Against Hunger campaign was launched by American Express and Share Our Strength in 1993 to help fight hunger. In the past two years, American Express, with the help of thousands of Cardmembers, and merchants nationwide, has raised $10.7 million for Share Our Strength. Of that amount, $700,000 has been raised by merchants alone.

During the campaign, all merchants participate simply by accepting the American Express Card, while many choose to get more involved by matching or exceeding American Express' per transaction donation, hosting shopping nights or food and fund-raising events, participating in advertising and marketing programs, or simply displaying point-of-purchase cards and decals. Some of the ways that merchants across the country are participating beyond simply accepting the card are:

In Boston, American Express is presenting this year's "Holiday Stroll for Charge Against Hunger" on Newbury Street which includes a wreath and menorah auction, street-lighting ceremony and 20 Newbury Street merchants matching the three cent donation per transaction. At Faneuil Hall, American Express employees are hosting a gift-wrapping booth with proceeds being donated to Share Our Strength.

In New York, Century 21 will host a special shopping night and a canned food drive, while up to 400 restaurants are expected to participate in American Express' "Giving Never Tasted So Good" dining program on November 15 to raise food, funds and awareness. Then on November 18, American Express will join with New York Magazine and Red Apple Supermarkets to donate Thanksgiving turkeys to a local soup kitchen based on the total number of runners who surpass specific male and female finishing times in the inaugural American Express Turkey Classic. All runners and spectators are encouraged to bring cans of food to the event for collection by an American Express-sponsored City Harvest truck.

In San Francisco, both Wilkes Bashford and Gumps will host Charge Against Hunger shopping nights in December while Timberland, Bullock & Jones and Lombardi Sports will all make special offers to Cardmembers.

In Phoenix, twenty local restaurants will match American Express' three cents per transaction donation each time the card is used to purchase a meal in their establishment during November and December.

In Salt Lake City, Dan's Food Stores is including Charge Against Hunger in their print advertising for all six locations to further heighten campaign awareness and encourage shoppers to buy their groceries with the American Express Card.

And in the Southwest, Neiman Marcus will contribute a portion of the total sales proceeds from its Neiman Marcus Holiday Express Train to Charge Against Hunger. The Holiday Express Train will make an innovative shopping tour of San Antonio, New Orleans, Jackson, Mi., Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Indianapolis. In each city, shoppers will have the chance to purchase Neiman Marcus's fine quality merchandise aboard the beautifully restored Orient Express passenger train.

Share Our Strength is the nation's leading anti-hunger organization that mobilizes industries and individuals to contribute their talents to fight hunger.

Current American Express research shows that based on the way American Express Cardmembers use American Express Cards, Cardmembers can put 86% on their plastic spending on the American Express Card. American Express is signing up new merchants to accept the American Express Card at the rate of one every two minutes.

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Express Company -- a diversified worldwide travel and financial services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.

CONTACT: M. Silver Associates

Ellen Markowitz, 212/754-6500

or

American Express

Greg Tarmin, 212/640-4428

or

Share Our Strength

Ann Andrews, 202/393-2925