New York, NY, November 12, 2003—Today, the National Urban League announced that it\'s 47^th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner, which took place Tuesday, November 11 at New York\\\'s Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, raised over $1.5 million. The League\\\'s premier fundraising event posted the largest attendance in its recent history, with well over a thousand attendees

Honorees included National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleeza Rice; the Reverend Dr. Floyd H. Flake, president, Wilberforce University and senior pastor of the Greater Allen Cathedral of New York; Alonzo Mourning, star center for the New Jersey Nets; Emmitt Smith, NFL career rushing leader and running back for the Arizona Cardinals, and UPS (NYSE: UPS), the world\\\'s largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistic services.

Andrew C. Taylor, chairman and CEO, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, was the National Dinner Chair, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car was a Presenting Sponsor. Other presenting sponsors included UPS and Citigroup.

Also in attendance at the event were Shoshana Johnson, the former POW in Operation Iraqi Freedom; former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins; Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY); Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY); Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY); actress Regina King of Jerry Maguire fame; and former Labor Secretary Alexis Herman.

The annual affair recognizes individuals and organizations in the business, civic and entertainment fields who have made outstanding contributions to opening the doors to equal opportunity for all Americans.

"The Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner is our highest recognition of individuals, organizations and corporations who have helped to level the playing field, creating equal opportunity and access for all in our nation," National Urban League president and CEO Marc H. Morial said.

A special surprise came from honoree Emmitt Smith who presented the League with a check for $20,000. MetLife/MetLife Foundation also donated $1 million to the League for upcoming initiatives in 2004. The company, along with UPS, Altria Group, Inc., Bank of America, IBM Corporation, MetLife/MetLife Foundation, and State Farm Insurance Companies, was inducted into the League\\\'s Five-Million Dollar Hall of Fame, representing companies who have contributed five million dollars or more to the League over the course of their relationship. Panasonic/Matsushita was inducted into the League\\\'s Million Dollar Hall of Fame for its contribution of more than $1 million to the League during the organizations\\\' 24-year relationship.

Dr. Rice received the National Public Service Award for her history-making achievements, including being the first female and African American to serve as National Security Advisor; Dr. Flake received the National Urban League Social Enterprise Award for his contribution to urban development initiatives operated and sponsored by the Greater Allen Cathedral of New York; Emmitt Smith and Alonzo Mourning received the Outstanding Community Service Award for exemplary service to underserved communities through fundraising and other philanthropic efforts; and UPS received the Corporate Leadership Award for its extraordinary corporate citizenship and social responsibility.

"Last night\\\'s event was a triumph in every respect; from the caliber of the honorees and attendees, to record funds donated and outstanding attendance numbers. There was excitement in the air about the urgency of this movement, about the importance of civic, corporate and government partnership, and young folks and experienced movement members joining together to take this 21^st Century Empowerment Movement to the next level," National Urban League president and CEO Marc H. Morial said.