Saucony's Run For Good(SM) Program Announces First Grant Winners

Grassroots Running Programs Across the Country Recognized for Giving Kids a Running Start to Good Health 


LEXINGTON, Mass., Aug. 22  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As children head back to school, they are facing one of the most important challenges of their lives: adopting a healthy lifestyle that will provide the foundation for a healthy future.

At a time when childhood obesity is on an alarming rise, and funding for physical education programs is on the decline, Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of The Stride Rite Corporation (NYSE:SRR), and a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel, today announced the first of a series of Saucony Run For Good Program grant winners.

The Saucony Run For Good Foundation, created earlier this year, will give kids across the country a running start to a lifetime of good health through community-based programs that support youth-oriented running and fitness activities.

The benefits of running not only provide better health, but research also shows that running helps children get better grades and even manage stress. "As a company by and for runners, we are excited to be able to help these youth-based organizations who so closely identify with our passion," said Tom Carleo, senior vice president of product for Saucony.  "We know we can't solve this childhood epidemic on our own, but we hope that these grants will make a difference for the program recipients and the kids that they serve."

From GirlsCAN!, a running club of 30 girls in Cincinnati, Ohio to a new Marathon Kids initiative in Los Angeles serving 25,000 children, the following winners will maximize the use of running to promote healthy lifestyles in children.

  Peachtree Running Club, Peachtree, Georgia
        A before-school running program made up of 13 elementary schools,
        prepares students to run the Peachtree City "Kid's Marathon Finish,"
        the last 1.2 miles of the Classic marathon.

  Kittering Classical Elementary, Long Beach, California
        A new "Run For Good" club featuring weekly runs at recess,
        motivational speakers, and a new health curriculum.

  Rustic Lane Joggers Club, Riverside, California
        A running club serving over 250 students started by a 3rd grade
        teacher frustrated because his students didn't have an available
        physical education class.

  Iowa Kidstrong, Des Moines, Iowa
        A non-competitive, year-round incentive program that motivates kids
        from 20 elementary schools to run, walk and cross-train, leading up
        to a "finale event."

  GirlsCAN!, Cincinnati, Ohio
        A pilot project that encourages young African-American girls from
        the heart of Cincinnati's urban core to share in running activities
        with their mothers, culminating in three 5K events annually.

  Think Detroit PAL, Detroit, Michigan
        A track and field program for inner-city youth, coached by the
        Detroit Police Department, offering children the chance to run in a
        safe and fun environment.

  Marathon Kids, Los Angeles, California
        Launch of an L.A.-based Marathon Kids initiative that encourages
        children and their families to build a love and habit of running,
        walking and making healthy food choices.



The Saucony Run For Good Grant program is just one part of the Saucony Run For Good Foundation.  The Foundation's other initiatives include fun runs at local specialty retail events and the Saucony 26 marathon program, now in its third year.

For grant applications and more information on how the Saucony Run For Good Foundation can help kids in local communities nationwide and how you can help through local Saucony Run For Good Fun Runs visit http://www.sauconyrunforgood.com/.

About Saucony, Inc.

Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of The Stride Rite Corporation, is a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel with its widely recognized brands Saucony, Saucony Originals and Spot-bilt.  For more information, go to http://www.saucony.com/.

About Stride Rite

Headquartered in Lexington, MA, The Stride Rite Corporation is an NYSE company (SRR) with 2005 net sales of $588 million. Stride Rite markets the leading brand of high-quality lifestyle and athletic shoes for children and adults that are marketed by the Company under well-known brand names, including Stride Rite, Keds, PRO-Keds, Saucony, Sperry Top-Sider, Tommy Hilfiger, and Grasshoppers. Apparel products are marketed by the Company under the Saucony and Hind brand names. Information about the Company is available at http://www.strideritecorp.com/.  Information about the Company's brands and product lines is available at http://www.striderite.com/, http://www.keds.com/, http://www.saucony.com/, http://www.sperrytopsider.com/, and http://www.hind.com/. 

DATASOURCE: Saucony, Inc.



CONTACT:  Sharon Barbano, Sr. Director, Public Relations, of Saucony,

Inc., [phone],  (Media); or Erin Vadala,

of Warner Communications, [phone],  

Copyright