FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephanie Lee

February 16, 2006 sjlee@prstreet.com

(919) 467-5567

Athletes, Politicians, Artists and Business Leaders Lend Their Names and Time to Participate in Communities In Schools’ Lunch With a Leader Campaign

Alicia Keys, Richard Petty and Richard Burr Dine With Locals to Raise Funds for CIS

(Raleigh, NC) – Some of the biggest names in the public arena are lending their names and time to support Communities In Schools (CIS). Former NC Governor Jim Hunt, musical artists Alicia Keys and Patti LaBelle, US Senator Richard Burr and NASCAR drivers Richard Petty and Brian Vickers are joining ABC News correspondents Sam Donaldson and George Stephanopoulos along with MSNBC anchor Chris Jansing in participating in Communities In Schools’ annual Lunch With A Leader public awareness campaign.

These leaders have agreed to take an online auction winner for a one-hour lunch at a venue of the leader’s choosing. The leaders will also provide the auction winner with an opportunity for an autograph and photo. Some leaders have offered to provide extra perks, like The Tonight Show’s Kevin Eubanks. Eubanks, music director for The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, has offered to give the winning bidder two (2) complimentary VIP green room tickets to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

This “lunch of a lifetime” provides online bidders with a chance to win a one-hour lunch with any of these stars and more than 50 other notable personalities and celebrities. The public will have an opportunity to bid online for the chance to “do lunch” with one of several leaders, including actress Jenna Elfman, Heisman trophy winner Matt Leinart and Starbucks Coffee’s President and CEO Jim Donald. They are a just a few of the many celebrities lending their time and support to benefit CIS.

Bidding begins for Lunch With A Leader February 10 and concludes February 20 at www.lunchwithaleader.com.

About Communities in Schools

Communities In Schools is the nation’s leading community-based organization helping students stay in school, succeed in the classroom and prepare for life. CIS connects community resources with schools that need them. Today more than 2 million young people have access to services through 194 local Communities In Schools programs in 31 states. Worth Magazine has named CIS as one of America’s 100 leading charities for two years in a row.