THE WAITT FAMILY FOUNDATION AND COX COMMUNICATIONS DEDICATE POWERUP TECH CENTER AT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF OCEANSIDE

Hundreds of Area Youth to Benefit

Oceanside, CA- August 21, 2001 - The Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside announced the dedication of its state-of-the-art PowerUP Tech Center, which will provide technology education, computer training, and Internet access to hundreds of Oceanside area youth.

"We are delighted to be opening the Waitt Family Foundation and Cox Communications PowerUP Tech Center here at the Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside," said Barbara Wayne, president of the Board of the Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside. "We believe that providing access to technology will not only enhance our children's education, but will give them the tools to be successful long-term. It is now beyond a doubt that technology is changing the way we live, learn, work and play, and every boy and girl needs access to this technology. We appreciate the on-going commitment made by The Waitt Family Foundation, Cox Communications, and the Junior Seau Foundation to the Oceanside community," she added.

The Oceanside PowerUP center is one of 17 centers the Waitt Family Foundation is sponsoring in San Diego County. Along with their commitment to open PowerUP centers in San Diego, the Waitt Family Foundation has also committed to providing up to 50,000 Gateway computers over a three-year period to PowerUP centers nationwide.

"We are extremely pleased that the Oceanside Boys & Girls Club has committed to helping close the digital divide in their community," said John Heubusch, president of The Waitt Family Foundation. "There is nothing more important in our lives and in the future of our communities than to ensure all of our children have access to the tools and information they need to get ahead, and stay ahead," Heubusch added.

Cox Communications will donate its high-speed Internet service Cox@Work to the Boys and Girls Club of Oceanside for five years. As part of its ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide, Cox Communications is established Cox Tech Centers throughout San Diego County n communities with little access to computers or the Internet. The Boys and Girls Club of Oceanside will be the first North County location, and the third countywide, benefiting from this ongoing effort.

" We believe that through public-private partnerships, we can bring technology and the Internet to communities where computer ownership and Internet connectivity is low," said Joe Gabaldon, Government and Community Relations Representative for Cox Communications. "By establishing Cox Tech Centers in those communities, we are one step closer to making the latest technology accessible to everyone."
" I am proud that the Boys & Girls Club was selected to be a PowerUP site by The Waitt Family Foundation. The Junior Seau Foundation is pleased to play a role in making the computer lab a reality. It makes me happy to see the club offering these additional opportunities to the kids in Oceanside," said Junior Seau, the foundation founder.

"The Boys and Girls Club is a tremendous resource for so many of Oceanside's children, particularly during the critical hours after school. When a program like the Boys and Girls Club is able to complement what students are doing in school with technology, students who might not otherwise be able to practice their computer skills at home have a wonderful opportunity to do as well as more affluent children. That is a benefit to our community as well as to each child who participates," said Cindy Sabato, Public Information Officer for the Oceanside Unified School District.

The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside is to inspire and enable young people of all backgrounds in the community to develop to their full potential as self-confident, productive, responsible and caring citizens. More than 2,500 Oceanside boys and girls currently participate in programs offered by the club.
The establishment of the PowerUP center was also supported by the City of Oceanside, Oceanside Unified School District, McCormick Tribune Foundation, Joseph Family Foundation, Alliance Healthcare Foundation, Asymtek, BJA, and the California Wellness Foundation.

PowerUP is comprised of dozens of non-profit organizations, major corporations and state and federal government agencies that have joined together to ensure that America's underserved youth acquires the skills, experiences and resources they need to succeed in the digital age. In less than two years, thanks to sponsors like The Waitt Family Foundation, Cox Communications and the Junior Seau Foundation, PowerUP has opened more than 350 community-based technology centers, installing computer labs in schools, public housing complexes, youth serving facilities, and community centers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.