STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 2000--General Colin Powell, USA (Ret.), founder and chairman of America's Promise, Michael J. Critelli, chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes Inc., (NYSE: PBI), and a host of community and corporate leaders will be joining students from Stamford, Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan on March 10, 2000, to celebrate Southwestern Fairfield County's Promise to Our Youth, an initiative that will benefit youth in the four cities.

The initiative is Southwestern Fairfield County's response to challenges issued at the 1997 Presidents' Summit, the event that launched America's Promise. On that occasion, General Powell and Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan for Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and Bill Clinton challenged the country to provide youth with access to the five promises. Those promises include relationships with caring adults, safe places and structured activities during non-school hours, a healthy start and future, marketable skills though effective education and an opportunity to give back through community service.

"Southwestern Fairfield County's Promise initiative is a wonderful example of how the Internet can be used to communicate the project's goals and results to the widest audience. But even more important, it is a great way to involve youth in the process; they're exposed to the principles promoted by America's Promise, including learning the technological skills that we know they will need to succeed," said General Colin Powell, USA (Ret.), founder and chairman of America's Promise.

Pitney Bowes has served as the most active and significant corporate sponsor since the inception of the local Promise to Our Youth initiative, and Pitney Bowes' chairman, Mr. Critelli, serves as chairman of the initiative. Pitney Bowes supports the five promises that Promise to Our Youth has identified as necessary ingredients to positive youth development in a variety of ways.

These endeavors include: the Pitney Bowes Learning Is For Everyone mentoring program; the Saturday Academy Preschool Academic Enrichment and Elmcroft Technology Scholarship Programs that Pitney Bowes sponsors through CTE; Pitney Bowes' significant financial support of Stamford's Hillandale Avenue Preschool Program; and the company's provision of ComputerTots computer education programs to youngsters in area Head Start programs. Pitney Bowes contributed $50,000 of critical funding to Domus Foundation to assist the Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County with the development and implementation of the Promise to Our Youth initiative. And as part of its commitment to the Summit, Pitney Bowes has pledged to create a volunteer grant program as an incentive to encourage employees to volunteer.

"Pitney Bowes believes that investments like these in our area's youth are critical to the quality of life in our communities and the future strength of our business. We encourage other organizations in our area to make whatever commitments they can to support this initiative and our young people," said Michael J. Critelli, chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes. "The Summit is intended to bring youth and adults together to create and maintain important partnerships for the benefit of everyone living in our communities. We are proud to partner with the Domus Foundation and the Volunteer Center to bring this important initiative to our region."

Pitney Bowes' efforts are just one example of the creative commitments that can be made through Promise to Our Youth. To date, organizations like Table to Table and the Yerwood Center have also made commitments. Table to Table will teach healthy eating habits to low-income children in area after-school programs. The Yerwood Center is forming a Saturday mentoring and educational remediation and enrichment program called HOPE with the help of a group of college-educated African American young professionals.

The initiative is actively recruiting other commitments, large and small, of resources and volunteer hours from area corporations, community service organizations, communities of faith, and individuals to ensure that these five promises are available to all area youth. The March 10th event will unveil these commitments, along with a new Web site called Future Leaders of the World Spot (FLOWSPOT.org), a communications tool that is being created to link youth to the providers of these resources. By involving youth from all four communities in all phases of design, construction and maintenance of the Web site, this four-town project is providing an educational and skill-building experience that will prepare them for the future. As their commitment, Lexitech, a pioneer in the development of multimedia public access information systems, has donated the design and production services required to launch the site.

The day-long Summit, to be held at the Westin Stamford Hotel, will include a morning general session, 10 workshops to provide a forum for shared, productive discussion and learning among youth, corporate volunteers, community leaders and resource providers, and a 1:45 PM keynote address by General Powell. To learn more about the event, or to make a commitment, contact the Summit Headquarters at 203-541-8911.

     CONTACT:  Cunningham Communication, Inc.
               Michelle Hennelly
               617-374-4241
               mhennelly@ccipr.com
               or
               Summit Headquarters
               Hilary Shapiro
               203-541-8911