GIRLS INC.® AND MATTEL, INC. TEAM UP TO INSPIRE GIRLS TO BE STRONG, SMART, AND BOLD

GIRLS INC.® AND MATTEL, INC. TEAM UP TO INSPIRE GIRLS TO BE STRONG, SMART, AND BOLD
Partnership to Bring Message of Empowerment to Millions of Girls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 7, 1999

NEW YORK—Mattel, Inc. and Girls Incorporated today announced that they have entered into a three-year collaboration that focuses on providing girls with the tools they need to pursue their dreams and the inspiration to be strong, smart, and bold. The two organizations plan to combine their strengths to reach millions of girls through educational events, specially developed products, and empowering messages incorporated into packaging and marketing materials. Mattel is also making an unrestricted donation to Girls Inc. of $1.5 million over three years to support programs that teach girls about technology, money and finance, math and science, life skills and career planning, the media, and sports.

“We are delighted to have Mattel—a corporation that has such a tremendous impact on the lives of girls—as our partner,” says Isabel Carter Stewart, Executive Director of Girls Inc. “Their products help girls imagine the future, and our programs help girls prepare and plan for productive, economically independent, fulfilling lives. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of so many young women.”

The first year of the relationship will focus on Mattel's Barbie doll brand. In honor of the Barbie doll's 40th anniversary, Mattel and Girls Inc. will jointly develop an educational CD-ROM that will inspire girls to pursue their dreams through the stories of such “Ambassadors of Dreams” as: Dr. Sylvia Earle, renowned marine biologist; Katrina Garnett, technology entrepreneur; Ruth Handler, creator of the Barbie doll; Jackie Joyner-Kersee, one of the greatest athletes in the world; Geraldine Laybourne, top entertainment executive; Ann Moore, president of People magazine; Rosie O'Donnell, Emmy-winning talk show host; Muriel Siebert, first woman to gain a seat on the New York Stock Exchange; and Vera Wang, leading fashion designer.

“I can think of no better way to continue to support girls than by partnering with an organization that provides them with the skills to realize their dreams,” says Jill Barad, Chairman and CEO of Mattel, Inc.

On March 9, 1999, the official “birthday” of the Barbie doll, Girls Inc. girls will join Ms. Barad at the New York Stock Exchange to take part in a power breakfast with women from the financial industry to focus attention on the accomplishments of women and the ongoing need for economic literacy education. The two organizations will then continue to work to achieve a shared vision of inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

Mattel, Inc. is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of toys to children, whose core brands include: Barbie, Fisher-Price, Disney, Winnie the Pooh, Sesame Street, See 'N Say, Magna Doodle, View-Master, Power Wheels, Matchbox, Tyco Radio Control, Tyco Electric Racing, and Hot Wheels.

Since its inception in 1945, Girls Inc., formerly Girls Clubs of America, has inspired millions of girls to be strong, smart, and bold young women. The organization, which currently serves 350,000 young people a year in over 1,000 sites across the country, has made a commitment to extend its reach by the year 2002 to touch the lives of one million annually.