ADVISORY/Prudential Financial Honors Spirit of Community Student Volunteers in Miami

Business Wire, March 11, 2003

Business Editors/Education Writers

ADVISORY...for Saturday (March 22)

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2003

WHAT: "Spirit of Community" award presentation for Miami-area student volunteers. Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program honors outstanding student volunteer efforts in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). WHO: State Finalist - Laura Greer, 17, a senior at Ransom Everglades School researched and wrote "The Foster Care Guide for Kids," a book designed to answer children's questions about their foster care experiences. Distinguished Finalists: -- Andrea Arencibia-Moore, 12, a seventh-grader at Southwood Middle School -- Lara Bueso, 18, a senior at Coral Reef Senior High School  -- Ilana Papir, 17, a senior at Ben Lipson Hillel Community High School 30 Local Honorees will be accompanied by their parents, teachers and school board representatives, as they are honored for their volunteer efforts in the Miami community and presented with a certificate of recognition. GUEST SPEAKER / PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Dr. Marta Perez, School Board Member School Board of Miami-Dade County Public Schools WHEN: Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. WHERE: Hard Rock Cafe - Bayside Marketplace 401 Biscayne Boulevard - Miami

About Prudential Financial Spirit of Community Awards Program

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program, now in its eighth year, is conducted by Prudential Financial, Inc. in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

More than 24,000 high school and middle level students nationwide submitted applications for this year's program. All public and private middle level and high schools in the country were eligible to nominate a student for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award this past November. Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs, Camp Fire USA councils and Volunteer Centers were also eligible to nominate student volunteers for the awards program.

All local honorees were reviewed by state-level judges, who selected state honorees and distinguished finalists based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth. State honorees, each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees - one middle level and one high school youth - from each of the other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for several days of national recognition events. Ten of them will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2003 at that time.

The awards are part of a broad initiative created by Prudential to encourage young people to become involved in community service. Other elements of the initiative include The Prudential Youth Leadership Institute, a community leadership training program for high school students and a variety of educational materials for young people and teachers relating to youth volunteerism.

For information on all of this year's Prudential Spirit of Community state honorees and distinguished finalists visit http://www.prudential.com.

Editor's Notes:

Prudential Financial executives are available for interview to discuss Spirit of Community and additional community outreach efforts.

Logos, high-res photos and B-roll are immediately available upon request.