FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SBC COMMUNICATIONS BECOMES FIRST TITLE SPONSOR OF
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JUNETEENTH LINEAGE, INC.
Sponsorship promotes major Juneteenth celebrations in six cities
SAN ANTONIO, (May 30, 2000) – SBC Communications Inc. today announced it has become the first title sponsor of the National Association of Juneteenth Lineage, Inc., the national organization devoted to promoting and fostering African American heritage through support for Juneteenth celebrations across the United States. Through this sponsorship, SBC’s family of telecommunications companies will be represented at Juneteenth festivities in five cities: Tulsa, Okla., Allensworth, Calif., Milwaukee, Wis., Flint and Detroit, Mich., and Galveston, Texas.
In addition to the national sponsorship, Pacific Bell has donated more than $37,000 to help fund educational outreach and development of a website for the historically significant Allensworth State Park, the site of the first town in California founded and governed by African Americans.
"Juneteenth celebrations help all of us recognize the tremendous contribution and progress of African Americans," said Steve Dimmitt, SBC consumer marketing vice president. "This sponsorship is part of our continuing commitment to support projects that are important to the communities we serve."
Juneteenth originated in Galveston, Texas, in 1865, and is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States. In recent years, Juneteenth has evolved into a series of community-based celebrations and festivals that emphasize education and achievement by African Americans. Through chapter organizations in 28 states, the National Association of Juneteenth Lineage, Inc. serves as a national clearinghouse and information resource on Juneteenth activities.
In addition, the association is leading the effort to petition the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Juneteenth commemorative postage stamp.
"The Juneteenth movement has seen phenomenal growth in recent years thanks to the tireless efforts of thousands of people who cherish freedom, and who appreciate the importance and the power of the history of African Americans," said Lula Briggs Galloway, president of the National Association of Juneteenth Lineage, Inc. "We are grateful to SBC for their significant support, and we hope other leading companies will follow their example."
The SBC family of companies and Juneteenth celebrations represented by this sponsorship are:
| Southwestern Bell | Tulsa, Oklahoma June 15-17 Galveston, Texas June 17-19 |
| AmeritechFlint | Michigan
June
15-19 Detroit, Michigan June 16-18 Milwaukee, Wisconsin June 19-23 |
| Pacific Bell | Allensworth, California June 24 |
The SBC companies also will offer a book authored by Galloway, "Juneteenth – Ring the Bell of Freedom," at booths at several Juneteenth celebrations, with proceeds from sales going to the national organization.
Further information about Juneteenth is available at www.juneteenth.com.
SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) is a global communications leader. Through its subsidiaries' trusted brands - Southwestern Bell, Ameritech, Pacific Bell, SBC Telecom, Nevada Bell, SNET and Cellular One - and world-class network, SBC's subsidiaries provide local and long-distance phone service, wireless and data communications, paging, high-speed Internet access and messaging, cable and satellite television, security services and telecommunications equipment, as well as directory advertising and publishing. In the United States, the company currently has 94.1 million voice grade equivalent lines, 11.7 million wireless customers and is undertaking a national expansion program that will bring SBC service to an additional 30 markets. Internationally, SBC has telecommunications investments in 22 countries. With more than 208,000 employees, SBC is the 13th-largest employer in the U.S., with annual revenues that rank it among the largest Fortune 500 companies.
# # #
