LAX AND WH SMITH RETAILERS SPONSOR FIRST ANNUAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION TO PROMOTE LITERACY

(Los Angeles, California – December 15, 2000) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and WHSmith USA Travel and Retail are co-sponsoring their first annual holiday celebration for 300 students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades from Oak Street Elementary School of the Inglewood Unified School District on Friday, December 15, 2000, from at 9:00 am to 12:30 PM, at the Proud Bird Restaurant, 11022 Aviation Boulevard, Los Angeles (between Imperial and La Cienega Boulevards).

The students will participate in a special, fun-filled day of food, toys and entertainment developed by WH Smith and LAX to brighten the holidays for under-served children who live near the airport. In addition, through a letter-writing exercise to Santa Claus that occurred in the classrooms before the event, students enhanced their reading and writing skills.

"We are both pleased and proud to lend our support to such a worthy cause. I commend WHSmith’s efforts and am excited that they chose Los Angeles world Airports us to help them execute this first annual event," said Dr. Warren Valdry, a member of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners. "This program is a first step in a community-wide effort to improve literacy."

The children will be treated to a lunch and live entertainment consisting of hip-hop dancers, singers, storytellers, and a magician. Santa Claus will distribute gift bags of toys, books and school supplies.

WH Smith Vice President of Corporate Affairs Shelia Trappier-Edwards said, "We are looking forward to serving some of the children in the Inglewood school district through our first annual program. Similar programs have been successfully executed at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O’Hare Airport. This joyful event allows WHSmith an opportunity to establish a partnership with LAX where we can help make some children’s holiday just a little brighter. It also allows us to collectively give something back to the community and help promote literacy."