Announcement of 1998 Summit Award Winners.

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 1998--

Five East Bay Businesses To Be Recognized for

Outstanding Efforts in Community Volunteerism During

Inaugural Presentation of Awards in November

Shirley Nelson, Chairman of the Summit Bank Foundation, announced the names of five East Bay businesses selected to receive Summit Awards in the program's inaugural year.

Presentation of awards, along with the announcement of a special PINNACLE Award will take place during a luncheon ceremony before members of the business and nonprofit communities on Thursday, November 5th.

The Summit Awards debuts this year as the East Bay's only major recognition focused entirely on the community service and volunteerism efforts of businesses operating in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

Unlike other awards programs that recognize the volunteer efforts or philanthropy of individuals, the Summit Awards were created to call attention to businesses that encourage a higher degree of support to nonprofit organizations.

Businesses to be honored include: California Federal Bank of Lafayette, the New Mecca Cafe of Pittsburg, Safeway Corporation of Pleasanton, Timpson Garcia Certified Public Accountants of Oakland, and Title Nine Sports Clothiers of Emeryville.

In addition to receiving a Summit Award for community service activities, one of these five businesses has been chosen by the judging panel to receive the PINNACLE Award. The PINNACLE Award recognizes the most outstanding example of community support and activity undertaken by a business. The PINNACLE Award will be announced during the luncheon with a check in the amount of $25,000 given in the name of the business to the nominating organization.

To be considered for a Summit Award, a business must be nominated by an established nonprofit organization operating in either Alameda or Contra Costa Counties. Emphasis is placed on the creativity and impact of the support given by the business, rather than on the size of any financial contribution. By highlighting the variety of meaningful ways some businesses can get involved in their communities, the Foundation hopes to encourage other businesses to do the same.

Established by Oakland-based Summit Bank, the Summit Bank Foundation was organized by East Bay leaders representing the business community, media, county volunteer centers, as well as local civic and social institutions, to recognize local businesses for supporting nonprofit organizations in their community.

During July, nomination forms were sent to nonprofit organizations in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and ads were published in numerous daily and weekly newspapers, soliciting nominations from the community.

All qualified nominations were screened and reviewed by an independent panel of judges including: Joanne Wong of the East Bay Foundation; Laurie Fox from the Contra Costa Times; Nora Dougherty of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP; as well as Donna Coit and Donna Fitzwater representing the community at large.

The Winners

The New Mecca Cafe of Pittsburg was selected by the judges in the "Under 50 Employees" category for its continuing efforts on behalf of the Pittsburg Youth Athletic Association. Over the past five years, the well-known restaurant has donated food and assistance to help the Pittsburg Pony Baseball League raise thousands of dollars for needed equipment and facilities.

In the "50-100 Employees" category, the Summit Award will be given to Title Nine Sports Clothiers of Emeryville for its leadership in making sports opportunities more accessible to young women. The company initiated a girls basketball league for 4th and 5th grade Oakland public school students, and created a summer sports camp for girls aged 10-13.

Safeway Corporation in the East Bay was chosen to receive a Summit Award in the "Over 100 Employees" category for its ongoing commitment and support of Easter Seals in the Bay Area.

In its nomination of Safeway, Easter Seals outlined the extraordinary levels of local store volunteer support and hands-on service to people with disabilities. Safeway employees have organized and implemented annual events that have raised in excess of $1 million during the past several years for Easter Seals.

In the category of "Single Volunteer Effort -- One Employee," the firm of Timpson Garcia Certified Public Accountants was chosen as the most outstanding example of a business empowering its employees to get involved in the community.

As a representative of Timpson Garcia, firm partner Dennis Kaneshiro has spent the past five years working with Alzeimer's Services of the East Bay. With the support and encouragement of his firm, Kaneshiro has been instrumental in the development of the organization that has provided much needed help to a growing number of individuals in the East Bay afflicted with Alzeimer's disease.

The fifth Summit Award will be given to California Federal Bank of Lafayette in the category of "Group Volunteer Effort -- Two or More Employees." On behalf of the bank, employee MariAnn Legatt organized the Lafayette branch staff to provide assistance to Wardrobe for Opportunity, a Walnut Creek-based organization dedicated to helping disadvantaged women dress for job interview success.

The staff organized the collection and assisted in the distribution of clothing and financial support for the organization. In addition, the bank provides workshops for welfare recipients on topics including Personal Money Management.

The Summit Awards ceremony will take place at the Oakland Marriott Hotel on Thursday, November 5, 1998 at a luncheon presented by the Summit Bank Foundation in association with the San Francisco Business Times.

Individual tickets and tables of ten are available through advance purchase only by contacting Gloria South at the Foundation 510/839-8800. The money raised through the sale of tickets helps to fund the $25,000 donation made by the Foundation as part of the PINNACLE Award.

Note to Editors: Foundation Founder and Chairman Shirley Nelson is available for further comment or interviews on any aspect of the Summit Awards, the Foundation's Board and Advisory Committee membership, the overall mission of the organization, and its future plans in the areas of education and business assistance.

Nelson is the Founder and Chairman/CEO of 16-year old Summit Bank. She was selected as the 1997 Financial Woman of the Year by the San Francisco Financial Women's Association and has been recognized frequently for her efforts in volunteerism and community support.

Interview opportunities with representatives from Summit Award winning companies can be quickly facilitated by contacting Flossie Ruggiano at 925/284-0444.

Working media are invited to attend the November 5th ceremony. Please contact Flossie Ruggiano at 925/284-0444 for arrangements, or to schedule interviews before or after the ceremony.