Canon Supports Future Generations With Two Spring Programs That Focus on Education and Safety; Canon Know How Truck Tour Supports Family PC Awards.

Business Editors

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2000

PhotoID Cards Created To Raise Awareness for

National Missing Children's Day 

Canon went into high gear this month as part of its philanthropic focus to "protect America's most valuable resources: children and the environment."

Today the company kicked off two programs that support child safety and education. Canon today announced its "Wired for Success" school events showcasing Canon technology and underscoring its sponsorship of Family PC's "Top 100 Wired Schools" awards.

The Canon Know How Truck will travel to winning schools on the East Coast during May to showcase technology and learning as well as to allow visitors to create PhotoID cards for children in observance of National Missing Children's Day (May 25) -- an initiative created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to help parents and children in their safety efforts.

Taking place May 2-24, the 18-wheel Canon Know How Truck will visit some of the top wired schools, as named by Family PC magazine, in the New York/New Jersey, Washington D.C./Virginia and Boston areas. Visitors to the truck at these school events will get hands-on experience with the latest Canon technology in computer printing and digital photography. The PhotoID station was included on the Canon Truck to support Canon's ongoing commitment to the NCMEC organization. The PhotoID cards serve as a "digital driver's license" for parents to keep just in case.

The traveling PhotoID station was first introduced last May and has helped raise public awareness for child safety at sporting events, state fairs and other local community events.

Canon Computer Systems Inc. (CCSI), the PC peripherals arm of Canon U.S.A., provides Canon Bubble Jet printers, scanners and digital cameras to police stations across the country as part of its "Bring Missing Children Home" program. The program was designed with two goals: to contribute technology expertise and tools to the recovery efforts of missing children; and to raise public awareness that photos can help find a missing child (in fact, that is how one out of every seven missing children is found).

To date, 33 police departments have benefited from the donated Canon equipment and claim that the technology tools have contributed to the successful recovery of at least seven missing children.

Due to the positive response of the PhotoID card, Canon has made this important safety tool available to anyone with an Internet connection. By visiting Canon's Print Planet Web site at www.canonprintplanet.com, parents will find a PhotoID template where they may produce the cards in the comfort of their own home.

Providing cutting-edge technology products has been a hallmark of Canon for more than 60 years. A pioneer in optics and lenses, imaging and Bubble Jet printing, Canon is recognized as a $25.7 billion worldwide technology leader. Canon consistently ranks as a top three holder of U.S. patents and owns more than 10,000 patents on Bubble Jet technology alone.

Canon's philanthropic programs support future generations by protecting America's most valuable resources: children and the environment. In keeping with these goals, the company is a leading supporter of a wide range of charitable causes, including The March of Dimes, the National Park Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, the Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Note to Editors: For more information on Canon's philanthropic programs, contact Pam Leeds, director, Public Affairs, Canon U.S.A. (516/328-4888 or [e-mail]). For more information about the dates, times and locations of the "Wired for Success" School events, visit the Canon Computer Systems Web site at www.ccsi.canon.com/events.