For Immediate Release Contact: Leslie A. Dunbar

ldunbar@nul.org

New York, NY, November 15, 2000–During its 44^th Annual Equal Opportunity Day (EOD) Awards Dinner this evening at New York’s Per Sixty, Chelsea Piers, the National Urban League is honoring Mrs. Ann S. and Mr. Theodore W. Kheel with its Special Recognition Award for the couple’s decades of outstanding service to the organization.

Mrs. Kheel, a volunteer to the New York Urban League for 35 years, joined the Board of Directors of the New York Urban League in 1965, then served as Board Secretary until 1991. She continues to serve on the Board of the New York Urban League as an honorary member.

In addition, Mrs. Kheel is the founder of the New York Urban League’s Annual Frederick Douglass Award Dinner, a celebration of diversity, equal opportunity and service to Urban League communities.

Mr. Kheel, who conceived the idea for the National Urban League’s Annual EOD Awards Dinner, became the seventh president of the Board of Trustees of the National Urban League in 1956, and served in that capacity until 1960. He also served as Chairman of the New York Urban League Board, which he joined in 1952.

"The level of dedication and passion as demonstrated by the Kheel’s is remarkable and stands as an example to all members of the Urban League movement," National Urban League President Hugh B. Price said. "Our organization is forever positively impacted by the strength of their leadership and service."

The National Urban League’s Annual EOD Awards Dinner honors individuals and corporations who perpetuate the principle of equal opportunity and exhibit leadership qualities that result in notable contributions to the cause of equal rights. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the League’s education, technology, economic self-sufficiency and racial inclusion initiatives.

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John Thain, President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., is this year’s Dinner Chairman, and Roz Abrams, Anchor, Eyewitness News, WABC-TV, Channel 7, New York, is the Mistress of Ceremonies. Because this year marks the League’s 90^th anniversary, the evening’s festivities will also feature a look back at the organization’s nine decades of service.

Following are the other honorees of the National Urban League’s 44^th Annual EOD Awards Dinner:

• Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc — The Corporate Leadership Award (accepted by David H. Komansky, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.) for their trailblazing efforts in creating an environment which fosters equal opportunity among society’s diverse cultures, while providing the catalyst for personal and professional achievement, as evidenced by the success of their historic ScholarshipBuilder program.

• Franklin Raines, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Fannie Mae — The National Public Service Award in recognition of his path-finding role heading the Office of Management and Budget and for becoming the first African-American to run a Fortune 500 company and shatter the CEO glass ceiling barrier.

• Kenneth I. Chenault, President and Chief Operating Officer, American Express Company — The Leadership Award in recognition of his achievements, advancements and leadership within America’s corporate stratosphere.

• Earvin "Magic" Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Magic Johnson Enterprises — The Community Service Award for raising the economic development playing field of minority communities across the country, as evidenced by his successful chain of movie theaters, and for the philanthropic efforts enacted through the Magic Johnson Foundation, a non-profit organization which directs its efforts toward the health, educational, and social needs of inner city youth.