PRESS RELEASES

For Immediate Release
Contact: Brenda Goburn Smith – (410) 385-1333

AFRICAN-AMERICAN CEO GROUP JOINS OPERATION HEALING

Baltimore, MD – September 20, 2005 -- The Presidents’ RoundTable, Inc. (PRT), a Maryland-based organization of African-American CEOs, has joined with over 30 African American churches, Associated Black Charities, The AFRO-American Newspapers, Radio One, Urban League, NAACP and other organizations in raising funds to help shore up relief efforts for the thousands of displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Campaign, “Operation Healing – The Ties that Bind” has already raised more than $500,000. The objective of the campaign funds is to reach out and benefit people in meaningful ways that facilitate: (1) immediate rescue and relief, (2) creative re-construction of infrastructure, and (3) restoration and reintegrating back to normal life.

Long time supporters of the local community, PRT members go on to urge all African American businesses to step up to the plate and join in this effort to help our larger community. The twenty-four member organization of the metropolitan Baltimore/Washington D.C. area agree this crisis is important enough to garner the commitment of everyone because the long-term impact has or will affect everyone in the country.

Garland O. Williamson, PRT’s President said, “It is in our nature to reach out to help brothers and sisters in crisis. They are truly just extended family we may or may not know. We were all touched and saddened initially, then got busy to find a way to help. Some members have already made significant monetary contributions to organizations, shipped food and supplies, and sent money for living expenses to displaced families and employees in the flooded areas.”

Any individual or business can make a donation to the “Operation Healing Fund” at The Harbor Bank of Maryland, headquartered at 25 W. Fayette Street in Baltimore, Maryland or any of their local branches. The Baltimore-based firm of Abrams, Foster, Nole and Williams will provide professional accounting services for the fund. For more information contact Brenda Goburn Smith, (410) 385-1333.