Alltel, Penske Racing South Driver Ryan Newman Team up to Help Hurricane Victims

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--Sept. 9, 2005--Alltel and Penske Racing South driver Ryan Newman are teaming up to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Alltel will donate $12 to the American Red Cross for every lap completed by Newman in the No. 12 Alltel Dodge at the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway Saturday. If Newman makes the "Chase for the Championship," Alltel will multiply the donation by 12 for a total possible donation of $57,600.

"I am very proud to be associated with Alltel, especially in times like this," Newman said. "Alltel has stepped up to the plate to help their employees, customers and others affected by Hurricane Katrina. This is just another motive for the Alltel Racing team to outperform our competitors this weekend in Richmond."

Alltel is providing temporary housing and financial assistance to employees and their families displaced by the hurricane. The company helped evacuate several employees from New Orleans to its corporate headquarters in Little Rock this past weekend.

Hurricane evacuees can make free calls to family and friends at any Alltel retail store. Alltel also is providing nearly 50 computers with Internet access and phones with free long-distance calling for evacuees in the central Arkansas area at a Cyber Center inside Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, Ark. The company has established a phone donation hotline for relief organizations to request wireless phone service. The hotline number is 1-888-2Alltel.

Alltel has made cash donations to American Red Cross chapters in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and is contributing to the relief effort led by former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton.

Alltel is a customer-focused communications company with more than 15 million customers in 36 states and nearly $10 billion in annual revenues.

Alltel, NYSE: AT