JM Family Enterprises Donates $2 Million to American Red Cross for Hurricane Relief

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 -- Responding to the tragic events unfolding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, diversified automotive company JM Family Enterprises, Inc. (JMFE) has donated $2 million to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to provide immediate emergency assistance including food, shelter, health and mental health services to the victims of all types of disasters including Hurricane Katrina.

"The people of the Gulf Coast have a long and slow recovery ahead. Thanks to the generous help of JM Family Enterprises, the Red Cross will be able to get help to those who need it," said Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "Support from our faithful partners such as JM Family Enterprises will again enable the Red Cross to be there for the long haul."

JM Family Enterprises, headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida, is the parent company of Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET), the largest franchised distributor of Toyotas in the world. Last year in response to Hurricanes Charley, Jeanne, Ivan and Frances, JMFE and SET, along with Toyota companies, donated $1.5 million to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and $500,000 for tsunami relief. Marsha Evans traveled to Florida in January 2005 to present the American Red Cross Circle of Humanitarians award to Jim Moran, founder and honorary chairman, and Pat Moran, chairman.

"We are very happy to do all we can to help," said Jim Moran. "There are so many people who are really hurting and in dire need. By partnering with Toyota companies we are part of a $6 million donation. We are also matching contributions from our associates and Toyota dealers in the Southeast and are glad to play a part in helping the recovery to begin."

"No words can describe the pain and distress that thousands of people are going through," said Pat Moran. "Those of us who have been so fortunate to have been out of harm's way need to come forward and do all that we can. We hope that this donation eases at least some of the anguish of those affected and will help get people back on their feet."

Right now, more than 142,000 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina are being sheltered in 485 American Red Cross shelters in eighteen states. Thousands of Red Cross staff and volunteers across the country are working around the clock to serve those whose lives have been disrupted by the hurricane. More than 5,600 Red Crossers have already left their families to serve in affected areas, and the Red Cross is moving more than 600 additional workers into affected areas every day.

About JM Family Enterprises

JM Family Enterprises is an $8.2 billion diversified automotive corporation with more than 4,200 associates. The company's principal businesses focus on vehicle distribution and processing, finance and warranty services, insurance activities, retail sales and dealer services. JMFE is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 15th largest privately owned corporation in the United States. It is also ranked No. 25 by a survey in FORTUNE(R) magazine of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and No. 7 on the InformationWeek 500 listing of the nation's most innovative information technology organizations. The company's primary subsidiaries include: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET), the nation's largest franchised distributor of Toyota vehicles; World Omni Financial Corp., an automotive financial products and services business; JM&A Group, one of the largest independent insurance and extended warranty group of companies in the U.S; JM Service Center, the company's internal shared services center; and JM Lexus, the largest volume retail Lexus dealership in the world. Headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Fla., JMFE has major operations in Jacksonville, Fla., Mobile, Ala.; Commerce and Alpharetta, Ga., and St. Louis, Mo.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina and thousands of other disasters across the country each year, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Please call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.