NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Sarah Koch

703-528-8317

skoch@thereadingconnection.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mattel Children’s Foundation Awards First Round of

Domestic Grants to 38 Nonprofit Organizations

Arlington, July 8, 2005 – The Mattel Children’s Foundation announced today the recipients of its first round of domestic grants, representing the first time the Foundation awarded funds through its online, unsolicited grant application program. Thirty-eight nonprofit organizations directly serving children in need in 21 states will receive grants in the range of $3,000 to $25,000. Average grant amounts were $10,000 per organization. The Reading Connection (TRC), a DC-area non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literacy and a love of reading to children in housing crisis, has received a $15,000 grant from the Mattel Children’s Foundation.

“The Foundation is excited to be able to award such a diverse group of organization that support our mission of making a meaningful difference, one child at a time. In partnership with these organization, the Mattel Children’s Foundation will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in need throughout the United States,” said Kevin, Farr, chairman of the Mattel Children’s Foundation and chief financial officer of Mattel, Inc.

The grants represent one of the Mattel Children’s Foundation’s new programs announced earlier this year as part of the Foundation’s relaunch. Through these domestic grants, the Foundation expects to help improve the lives of children in need throughout the U.S. The organizations that are receiving grants were selected based on their direct impact on children in need and their focus on one of the Foundation’s three priority areas: health and wellbeing; learning and literacy; and girl’s self-esteem and self-empowerment.

“This has been an exciting process for the Mattel Children’s Foundation,” said Deidre Lind, executive director and manager, Mattel Children’s Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy. “We received more than 1,200 applications from organizations throughout the United States in this first round. While the decisions have been difficult, we look forward to partnering with these 38 organizations chosen to make a difference in the lives of children throughout the United States.”

“The Reading Connection appreciates the support of the Mattel Children’s Foundation,” said Sarah Koch, executive director of TRC. “The long-term purpose of our programs is to offer children at-risk of homelessness the opportunity to overcome the challenges of homelessness and break the cycle of poverty by providing them the literacy skills necessary to succeed in school. We look forward to Mattel’s continued support as we all work to meet this important challenge one child at a time.”

The average child growing up in a middle class family has been exposed to 1,000 to 1,700 hours of one-on-one picture book reading by the time they enter kindergarten. In contrast, the average child from a low-income family has only been exposed to 25 hours of one-on-one reading. By providing outreach through the monthly Book Club, Parent Workshops and Staff Trainings, TRC is able to ensure that Arlington families of at-risk children are not denied the literacy development skills, confidence and resources necessary for their children’s successful literacy development.

Founded by Arlington County Educators in 1989, The Reading Connection (www.thereadingconnection.org) currently operates programs in 13 shelters in the Washington D.C. metro area, serving more than 2,500 children a year; about half of them under age five. TRC has more than 200 active volunteers, and has been recognized for outstanding volunteer achievement with a Presidential Citation form the Points of Light Foundation and the Virginia Governor's Award for Volunteer Excellence. TRC is a participant in the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign; its designation number is 8459.