PITTSBURGH, July 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI), a major corporate sponsor of the National Urban League, welcomed the League's new president and CEO Marc Morial to this year's conference in Pittsburgh.

Pitney Bowes' legacy of participation with the League dates back to 1949 and continues to be a mutually beneficial partnership, for the company and the NUL movement. In 1999, Pitney Bowes was inducted into the NUL's Million Dollar Hall of Fame.

In addition to financial support, the company has also donated the personal contributions of time and talent of its people at every level of the organization. Company executives have taught students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities through the company's association with the League's Black Executive Exchange Program. The company loaned an executive to NUL for a year to oversee its launch of an historic endowment fund that was established as a vehicle for the African-American community to invest in NUL's future. Pitney Bowes is also the founding sponsor of the Young Professionals Dialogue, which covers issues of importance to that audience.

One of the key highlights in the relationship is Pitney Bowes chairman and CEO Michael J. Critelli's role with the League. Critelli has been a member of the NUL Board of Trustees for several years and this year is presiding over his first convention as chairman of the NUL Board. In his role, Critelli provides leadership and direction to the distinguished group of corporate, education, economic and community leaders who are his colleagues on the Board.

Critelli also led the 18-member CEO search committee that brought Morial real to the League. Morial, a former two-term mayor of New Orleans and former Louisiana State Senator became the new NUL president and CEO in May.

"At this critical point in the League's history, it was important to find somebody with the ability to build bridges were needed to accomplish the League's mission, to connect with young people on the significance of the League and to have a proven track record of measurable results that could benefit the League. Marc is that person," Critelli said.

As an elected official, Morial was an advocate for civil rights, built programs for youth, and revitalized urban neighborhoods.

"It's an honor to be entrusted with the management of the National Urban League and to lead it toward providing further positive change in urban communities. We greatly value our partnership with Pitney Bowes and the leadership Michael Critelli has brought to the NUL Board," Morial said.

About the Urban League

The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement, empowering African-Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. The National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the nonprofit, nonpartisan movement, while Urban League affiliates operating more than 100 cities and 34 states and the District of Columbia.

About Pitney Bowes

Pitney Bowes is the world's leading provider of integrated mail and document management systems, services and solutions. The $4.4 billion company helps organizations of all sizes engineer the flow of communication to reduce costs and increase impact, and enhance customer relationships. The company's 80-plus years of technological leadership has produced many major innovations in the mailing industry and more than 3,500 active patents with applications in a variety of markets, including printing, shipping, encryption, and financial services. With approximately 33,000 employees worldwide, Pitney Bowes serves more than 2 million businesses through direct and dealer operations. More information on the company is available at www.pb.com.

     Contact:
     Sheryl Battles
     Vice President, External Affairs
     Pitney Bowes Inc.
     203-351-6808

     Lyria Howland
     Howland PR
     214-642-0397


SOURCE  Pitney Bowes Inc.
    -0-                             07/28/2003
    /CONTACT:  Sheryl Battles, Vice President, External Affairs, of Pitney
Bowes Inc., +1-203-351-6808; or Lyria Howland of Howland PR, +1-214-642-0397/
    /Web site:  http://www.pb.com /
    (PBI)

CO:  Pitney Bowes Inc.; The Urban League
ST:  Pennsylvania
IN:  FIN ADV
SU:  PER NPT BLK TDS

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7582 07/28/2003 11:50 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com