Mazda Dealers Team Up to 'Sack' Childhood Diseases, Score Big for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

- Dealers Ante Up as Philadelphia Eagles Make Opposing Quarterbacks 'Pay' -

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 11 -- Eleven Philadelphia-area Mazda dealers have teamed up to donate $10,000 to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia(R) on Saturday, February 12, at the Philadelphia International Auto Show. Before the start of the 2004 football season, the dealers pledged a $250 donation to Children's Hospital each time the Philadelphia Eagles sacked an opposing quarterback. The same Mazda dealers also are partnering to give away two new MAZDA3 vehicles -- one on each Saturday night of the auto show.

On behalf of the contributing group of Mazda dealers, William Fetterolf, district operations manager, Mazda North American Operations, will present a $10,000 check to Maureen Mason, Director of Corporate Advancement at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"The Philadelphia region is one of Mazda's hottest markets in the country, so our dealers want to give something back to the community through this donation to Children's Hospital," said Fetterolf. "We are proud to honor with this donation two world-class institutions -- the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia."

The 11 Mazda dealerships sponsoring the Children's Hospital donation and the MAZDA3 giveaways include:

   *  Brandywine Mazda -- West Chester, Penn.
   *  Faulkner Mazda -- Northeast Philadelphia, Penn.
   *  Hamilton Mazda -- Hamilton Square, N.J.
   *  Holman Mazda -- Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
   *  John Kennedy Mazda -- Conshohocken, Penn.
   *  Martin Mazda -- Newark, Del.
   *  Marty Sussman Mazda -- Willow Grove, Penn.
   *  North Penn Mazda -- Colmar, Penn.
   *  Nucar Mazda -- New Castle, Del.
   *  Pacifico Mazda -- Philadelphia, Penn.
   *  Tom Masano Mazda -- Reading, Penn.

"The support provided by these 11 local Mazda dealerships will assist The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in research and treatment efforts to eradicate childhood diseases," said Mason. "We know the hospital's appreciation is bested only by the gratitude of the families benefiting from Mazda's tremendous generosity."

Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and services support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 700 dealerships nationwide.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking second in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 430-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents.