NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2008--Following a nationwide competition, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI), the world's leading mailstream technology company, announced that the Seattle Storm has won a renovated reading and learning center for First A.M.E. Child and Family Center in Seattle as a part of the Fast Break To Reading program. The revitalized Center will be unveiled in 2009.

Throughout the season, the WNBA and Pitney Bowes worked with six teams across the country, including the Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm and Washington Mystics to help raise awareness and funding for literacy. Each team launched a literacy program at the beginning of the WNBA season, which included fundraising efforts for local organizations and the chance to win a refurbished reading and learning center. Each participating team also held "Reading Time-Out" events with the WNBA and Pitney Bowes to read to area youth and speak about the importance of reading.

"The WNBA is thrilled to join Pitney Bowes on this creative and innovative program to stimulate reading and raise awareness for literacy," said WNBA President Donna Orender. "Making a difference in communities and in the lives of our youth is strongly embraced by the WNBA."

"We would like to extend our congratulations to the Seattle Storm for their dedication to promoting literacy and rallying fans to support reading and learning in their community," said Juanita James, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Pitney Bowes. "We look forward to working with the WNBA and the Storm to help renovate the reading and learning center in Seattle and provide young students with an opportunity to learn, enjoy books and grow their own passion for reading."

"Literacy programs serve as a cornerstone of the Storm's community relations activities," said Seattle Storm CEO Karen Bryant. "The First A.M.E. Reading and Learning Center showcases our collaboration with Pitney Bowes, which has given many Seattle children an early start on developing reading skills that will help them to do well not only in school, but in life."

About Pitney Bowes

Pitney Bowes is a mailstream technology company that helps organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages. Our 36,000 employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two million customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1920 and annual revenues now total $6.3 billion. More information is available at www.pb.com.

About the WNBA

The WNBA is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement and diversity. Comprised of 14 teams, the WNBA is the most successful women's professional team sports league in the world. The league concluded its historic 12th regular season with increases in attendance, ratings and Web traffic.

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women's health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.

CONTACT: WNBA
Dina Skokos, 212-407-8840
dskokos@nba.com
or
Pitney Bowes
Karen King, 203-351-6189
karen.king@pb.com
or
Seattle Storm
Jennifer Carroll, 206-272-2706
jcarroll@stormbasketball.com

SOURCE: Pitney Bowes Inc.