REMINDER/2,000 Needy Children Will Celebrate Winter Festival 2003: There Will Be Toys, Food,...

News Editors/Assignment Desks

REMINDER...for Tuesday (Dec. 9)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHO/WHAT:   The Exposition Park Inter-generational Community Complex
            (EPICC) will be transformed on Tuesday, December 9, into a
            Winter Wonderland for 2,000 pre-selected




				

				
				 
				


 kids. The
            organizations and individuals hosting the event are:
            Shell Oil Company, Shell Oil Products US, EPICC, The
            Salvation Army Southern California Division, Radio Station
            100.3 The BEAT, The Los Angeles Eye Institute, The
            Stentorians (African-American Fire-Fighter Association),
            Mayor James Hahn, Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke,
            Councilman Bernard Parks, Councilwoman Jan Perry, Shell
            Retailers & Contractors, and other local businesses and
            vendors. All of the parties listed above are donating
            their time and resources. Entertainment includes: games,
            arts & crafts, face painting, jumpers, petting zoo, pony
            rides, clowns, cartoon characters, a snow mountain, and of
            course, Santa Claus.

WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday, December 9, 2003
            9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
            (BEST MEDIA WINDOW: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)

            The EPICC
            3890 South Menlo
            Los Angeles, CA
            (Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd./Menlo -- Next to Los Angeles
             Swimming Stadium at Exposition Park)

SCHEDULE:   9:00 a.m.  -- Children, from The Salvation Army, Menlo
                          Elementary School, Cimarron Avenue
                          Elementary School, and The Watts Learning
                          Center, begin arriving at 9:00 a.m.

            9:30 a.m.  -- Games begin along with music provided by
                          100.3 The BEAT

            10:30 a.m. -- Entertainment performs, Santa arrives

            10:45 a.m. - 2:10 p.m. -- Children go onstage, receive
                                      their present from Santa,
                                      take pictures, continue playing
                                      games

            11:00 a.m. -- Speakers (Elected Officials & Shell)

            11:30 a.m. -- Mayor will address the group

            2:30 p.m.  -- End of program

BACKGROUND:

2003 marks the 11th year Shell Oil, with the assistance of local
businesses, public and school officials, community leaders and
residents, and numerous volunteers, has sponsored the Winter Festival
for inner city underprivileged children.

Our mission:

To provide underprivileged children between the ages of 5 and 11, from
area elementary schools, foster care organizations, housing projects,
and non-profit community outreach centers, and their families the
opportunity to enjoy a welcomed holiday celebration. We want to
express to the children, their families and the community, that people
care and are willing to share their time and resources to ensure they
have a happy holiday. By working together, Shell Oil and its partners
will continue to make this goal a reality for the children and the
community.

CONTACT:    Ms. Cheryl Malonson, Shell Oil Company, 310-678-4337