Cole Vision Provides Generous Donation to Needy Families; Thousands of Eyeglass Frames Were Donated From Sears Optical and BJ's Wholesale Club Optical Through Gifts in Kind International.

Business Editors

NOTE TO MEDIA: Photo is available in a Smart News Release(TM) on

Business Wire's Home Page at www.businesswire.com

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2000

Thousands of needy families have access to free eyeglasses thanks to a generous donation by Cole Vision Corporation. Cole Vision's contribution of over 12,000 eyeglass frames was managed through Gifts In Kind International, the world's leading charity in product philanthropy. The eyeglass frames are being distributed to needy families and individuals in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Virginia and other Appalachian states.

&uot;Thanks to this generous donation from Cole Vision, needy families have the opportunity to receive eyeglass frames at no cost,&uot; said Susan Corrigan, president and chief executive officer of Gifts In Kind. &uot;The frames were distributed through family resource and youth service center programs and organizations in the Appalachian Mountain region. The eyeglass frames are being properly fitted with the appropriate lenses for each person who receives donated frames.&uot; The frames were donated from Sears Optical and BJ's Optical retail eye care centers of Cole Vision. The eyeglass frames were collected and donated from more than 1,100 retail outlets around the country.

&uot;We selected Gifts In Kind International for the donation because of their ability to find the most effective and efficient method of delivering the eyeglass frames to people who need them the most,&uot; said J. David Pierson, president, Cole Licensed Brands. &uot;Gifts In Kind is dedicated to providing quality products and services. This dedication is what nonprofit organizations need to continue improving lives in our communities. We are proud to support such an effort.&uot;

Gifts In Kind International (www.giftsinkind.org) partners with businesses and charities to provide quality products and services that improve lives in communities around the world. As the world's leading charity in the field of product philanthropy, Gifts in Kind provides charities access to $300 million annually in product and service donations. Manufacturers and retailers, including 26 FORTUNE 100 companies, rely on Gifts In Kind's free services to design and manage the donation process.

Cole Vision Corporation is a leading optical retailer and the largest chain provider of managed vision care in the United States. In addition to Sears Optical and BJ's Optical, Cole Vision also operates retail optical establishments under the brand names of Pearle Vision and Target Optical.

Cole Vision's parent company, Cole National Corporation, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is also the parent company of Things Remembered, the only nationwide personalized gift store, with more than 800 locations throughout the United States, and has a 24 percent stake in Pearle Europe.