Box Tops for Education Celebrates $100 Million Milestone and Honors Program Participants

Business Wire, March 2, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS -- Commemorative Photography Mosaic Showcases How Participating Schools Have Improved as a Result of the Box Tops Program

To honor thousands of participating Box Tops for Education schools nationwide that are a "billion times better" as a result of the fundraising program, Box Tops has commissioned a commemorative photography mosaic featuring hundreds of photos sent in by schools across the country showcasing educational and recreational equipment made possible by the program.

The Box Tops for Education national photography mosaic unveiling event will take place from 8-10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2 at the California Science Center, 700 State Drive (Exposition Park), in Los Angeles. Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), who was recently awarded the first-ever Box Tops for Education Champion Award for her many years of outstanding advocacy and support of California students and schools, as well as students from KIPP Academy of Opportunity in Los Angeles will help celebrate the unveiling.

Since the program's inception in 1996, over 80,000 schools have collectively redeemed more than one billion Box Tops coupons, earning a total of $100 million to use toward everything from computer or playground equipment to textbooks and art supplies.

In honor of this achievement, Box Tops for Education issued a call for enrolled schools to submit photos showing how their school is "a billion times better" thanks to the funds earned through Box Tops for Education. After the national unveiling, parents, teachers and students can visit www.boxtops4education.com and search the giant photography mosaic to find their school's photo.

"We are thrilled to unveil a virtual photography mosaic that will allow students, parents, teachers and community members nationwide to see first hand how their participation has made a difference," said Brian Peters, manager of the Box Tops for Education program. "We hope that schools across the county will continue to get involved in this program. And, this photography mosaic is a great way to illustrate how something as easy as collecting Box Tops can go a long way."

Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald added, "I am honored to be here today and help the Box Tops for Education program celebrate this wonderful achievement. As we continue to fight for meaningful education reform and educational excellence in public education, this mosaic is a great example of putting children and schools in the forefront of our minds."

About Box Tops for Education

The Box Tops for Education program started in Congresswoman Millender-McDonald's native state of California in 1996 and has grown in popularity and success each year thereafter, now helping more than 80,000 schools across the country. Box Tops for Education is a school fund-raising program run by General Mills, Inc. Box Tops for Education is open to any accredited public, private or parochial school in the United States, containing any class with students from Kindergarten to 8th grade that is organized and primarily operated for education purposes, and to any United States military school, containing any class with students from Kindergarten to 8th grade, worldwide. The Box Tops for Education program provides consumers three ways to earn cash for their school:

Clip with the original Box Tops for Education.

Save Box Tops coupons from hundreds of participating General Mills products from throughout the grocery store and give them to any enrolled K-8 school. Box Tops coupons are each worth 10 cents from General Mills when the school redeems them - up to a maximum of $20,000 per school annually.

Shop online at the Box Tops for Education Marketplace.

The Box Tops Marketplace, at boxtops4education.com, is a gateway to over 200 quality online stores including barnesandnoble.com, Landsend.com, Target.com, LLBean.com and Officedepot.com. Click to any store and up to 8 percent of each qualifying purchase is donated to a designated Box Tops school - up to a maximum of $20,000 per school annually.

Charge with the Box Tops for Education Visa card.

Use the Box Tops Visa card at more than 20 million locations worldwide and a full 1 percent of every purchase is donated to a designated Box Tops school - up to a maximum of $20,000 per school annually. Call 1-800-227-9605 to apply. There is no annual fee and a low APR.

For information on how to join the Box Tops for Education program or to become a Box Tops Booster Club member, call 1-888-799-2444 or visit www.boxtops4education.com. Booster Club members enjoy free great benefits including valuable coupons from General Mills, mealtime solutions, recommendations for children's books and family-friendly movies, and e-mail newsletters.

On February 22, 2005, General Mills' Box Tops for Education announced their Parental Involvement in Education (PIE(SM)) Grant Program. Ten $2,000 PIE grants will be awarded to school-sponsored parent groups across the country to establish or enhance an existing program that encourages parental involvement in an innovative and creative way. The PIE Grants are just one way that General Mills' Box Tops for Education program helps ensure that schools have the necessary funds they need to provide high quality education for all children.