Young Athletes Pilot Participants The pilot of Special Olympics Young Athletes™ (which began in 2005 and will continue through early 2006) has been implemented thanks to the generous support of the Mattel Children's Foundation. Programs currently participating are: • Special Olympics Azerbaijan • Special Olympics Chile • Special Olympics China (May 2006) • Special Olympics Delaware (USA) • Special Olympics Egypt • Special Olympics El Salvador    (demonstration program) • Special Olympics Illinois (USA) • Special Olympics Iowa (USA) • Special Olympics Ireland • Special Olympics Israel • Special Olympics Jordan • Special Olympics New Jersey (USA) • Special Olympics New York (USA) • Special Olympics North Carolina (USA) • Special Olympics Panama • Special Olympics Paraguay • Special Olympics Romania • Special Olympics Southern    California (USA) • Special Olympics Texas (USA) • Special Olympics Venezuela • Special Olympics Wisconsin (USA) Special Olympics Romania is one of many Programs who have implemented Young Athletes activities as a pilot. This pilot project is currently being evaluated by Special Olympics researchers and preliminary findings will be presented at the 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games in Ames, Iowa in July, 2006. Following the presentation of findings and subsequent adjustments of the program, Young Athletes will be made available to Special Olympics Programs throughout the world in the second half of 2006. For additional information, please contact: Sally Lemmon, Manager, Family & Young Athletes Special Olympics 1133 19th Street NW Washington, DC 20036-2604 +1 (202) 824-0259 youngathletes@specialolympics.org About the Mattel Children's Foundation Since its inception in 1978, the Mattel Children's Foundation has focused its strategic grantmaking on one objective: improving the lives of children. "We considered ways to make a meaningful, global contribution [and] our partnership with Special Olympics allows us to do just that. By focusing on sports programs for children with intellectual disabilities, Mattel employees will bring smiles to children's faces around the world in support of our global philanthropic vision," said Kevin Farr, Chief Financial Officer of Mattel, Inc., and Chairman of the Mattel Children's Foundation. Viewing philanthropy as an investment, the Mattel Children's Foundation funds exemplary nonprofit partners that not only share but demonstrate this ideal through their compassionate outreach to children as well as their financial accountability. The philanthropic work of the Foundation is funded through a percentage of Mattel's pre-tax corporate profits.