NY Governor Eliot Spitzer Urges Increased Efforts to Aid Children in Need at Fashion Industry Gala Benefit

K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers Raise a Record $1.1 Million and Send More Products to Aid California Wildfire Victims

NEW YORK, November 29, 2007 - New York Governor Eliot Spitzer said Tuesday night that he is ”sick of hearing about kids in poor neighborhoods who beat the odds – I want to change the odds.” The governor addressed a sold-out audience of 750 guests from the fashion, children’s, financial and retail industries at the annual fundraising gala of Kids In Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S) and partner charity Fashion Delivers. The event, at The Pierre, was emceed by Sherri Shepherd, co-host of ABC-TV’s “The View,” and raised a record $1.1 million for the two charities.

To highlight the continuing efforts of K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers to collect clothes, household products and toys for families victimized by the California wildfires, a large container truck filled with $40,000 worth of toys donated by Toys“R”Us was parked outside the hotel as guests arrived for the event. The truck, decked out with banners identifying the companies that previously donated over $2.1 in goods for the relief efforts in California, departed a short time later on its way to the San Diego Food Bank, one of the main agencies assisting wildfire victims.

Inside the ballroom, the charities paid tribute to three industry leaders for their philanthropic efforts: Jerry Storch, chairman and CEO of Toys“R”Us, Inc.; Abbey Doneger, president of The Doneger Group; and Artie Rabin, CEO of Wear Me Apparel/Kids Headquarters.

“We recognized these industry leaders for their extraordinary commitment to giving back, which has helped us to not only assist victims of natural disasters in this country and abroad, but to enhance the quality of life of children and families living in poverty,” said Rick Schaub, chairman of K.I.D.S. and senior vice president, Learning Curve Brands, Inc.

Allan Ellinger, chairman of Fashion Delivers and senior managing partner, Marketing Management Group, Inc. (MMG), commented, “We are honored to co-host such an important event that reinforces the significance of corporate giving. We thank all of the industry leaders that have lent their support to Fashion Delivers, as it has allowed us to expand our footprint as the preeminent industry organization that donates apparel and home furnishings product (blankets, towels, etc.) quickly to those most in need.”

Governor Spitzer commended the leaders of the two charities for their commitment to helping the less fortunate by donating new clothing, toys, books and other products throughout the year for distribution to children and families who live in poverty. He said that the scope of the poverty problem in America requires the combined efforts of government, business and voluntary organizations such as K.I.D.S. and Fashion Delivers, which together have collected and distributed $50 million in merchandise in 2007.

K.I.D.S. is a 22- year-old global charity of leading retailers, manufacturers, and licensors of children's and youth products committed to helping improve the lives of children and their families who are ill, live in poverty, or are victims of natural disasters. Fashion Delivers is a two-year-old not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide products from all parts of the fashion and related industries to victims of natural disasters and those in need. New, first-quality merchandise collected by Fashion Delivers is distributed by K.I.D.S. to grassroots human service and anti-poverty agencies in this country and to World Vision for relief efforts overseas.

For more information about K.I.D.S., visit www.kidsdonations.org.

For more information about Fashion Delivers, visit www.fashiondelivers.org.