Caterpillar Inc. Challenges Industry Partners with Gift to the SAE Foundation's $20 Million Centennial Campaign

Caterpillar Pledges Gift of $750,000 with Potential of $1 Million

DETROIT, Nov. 8 -- Caterpillar Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines, has pledged its support to the SAE Foundation and its $20 million centennial campaign. The centennial campaign, Inspiring a New Generation, was launched in April 2005 to coincide with SAE's centennial anniversary.

Caterpillar has pledged a $750,000 core grant. The funds are designated to support the SAE Summit on Education and SAE's A World In Motion(R), an exciting curriculum supplement for grades 4 through 10. In announcing the gift, Mark Pflederer, Caterpillar's Vice President, Technology & Solutions Division, said, "We embrace the opportunity to support SAE's educational efforts to ensure a diverse talent pool of future engineering graduates. It's more critical now than ever that we reach out to young people as early as possible to develop their interests in math and science. By supporting SAE Foundation's educational programs, we can spark the natural curiosity of young people and nurture their interest in pursuing engineering careers."

Hoping to inspire additional support from the commercial vehicle industry, Caterpillar also issued a special $250,000 matching challenge grant. The Caterpillar Foundation will match new and increased contributions from industry and business partners, as well as contributions made by Caterpillar employees and retirees. If the matching grant challenge is fully met, Caterpillar will be contributing a total of $1 million to support SAE's educational programs.

"Caterpillar has a reputation for making a difference in the world," Pflederer explains. "Our support of SAE's educational endeavors is an investment in our future, and with SAE as stewards, we're confident our investment truly will help shape the lives of today's youth who, in turn, will help to shape our world in the future."

Inspiring a New Generation will build upon the success of the SAE Foundation's educational outreach efforts by enhancing communication, expanding opportunities and building partnerships. Funds raised through the campaign will be used to create new curricula for SAE's A World In Motion(R) program, expand and enhance competitions in the SAE Collegiate Design Series, develop innovative methods for engaging students through the use of technology, and establish scholarships to enable future engineers to pursue their education. Only seven months since its launch, the campaign to date has raised more than $9 million in pledges.

  Campaign updates can be found at http://www.sae.org/campaign.

  About Caterpillar

For 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been building the world's infrastructure and, in partnership with its worldwide dealer network, is driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2004 sales and revenues of $30.25 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is a technology leader and the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.