For Immediate Release
December 21, 2001

The Siemon Company Supports Local Children with Gift to YouthNet

YouthNet program provides organized enrichment activities for under-privileged children in the greater Waterbury area

Watertown, CT — The Siemon Company, a worldwide leader in the structured cabling and telecommunications connectivity industries, announced today that it has made a significant donation on behalf of its customers to YouthNet, a Waterbury, CT based program designed to provide innovative after-school activities for inner city youths.

Started four years ago, YouthNet has provided organized, results-oriented programs for Waterbury's less fortunate children and their families. Targeted towards middle school aged students, YouthNet is a coalition of 14 separate agencies in the greater Waterbury area supported by the United Way of the Central Naugatuck Valley, Inc., the Waterbury Foundation, the Leever Foundation and the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Set up to track results, YouthNet has proved to have a very positive impact on the lives of over 400 participants - increasing test score, lowering absenteeism and much more. It has become a model for community program development.

"The Siemon Company is proud to be able to support such a worthy program as YouthNet," said Carl Siemon, President of The Siemon Company. "Typically we send holiday gifts to our customers to thank them for their support throughout the year. This year, we though it especially appropriate to remember those less fortunate in our community and make a donation in our customers' names to a children's charity. The holiday season always presents a unique opportunity to pause, reflect and remember our neighbors in need. We are happy to be able to support YouthNet in its admirable goal to help the under-privileged children of Waterbury."

"YouthNet participants take-part in programs as diverse as cooking, arts and crafts, computer and internet use and basketball with each program having a tutoring or homework help component. This combination of interesting educational activities, recreation and serious academic support has helped these children improve their grades and become more confident in themselves and their role in the community," said Kristen Bulkovitch, Chief Professional Officer of the United Way. "The Siemon Company's gift is another opportunity to combine our actions with others to create more opportunity than we would find on our own and strengthens our community as each human success perpetuates the next."

About Siemon
Established in 1903, Siemon is an industry leader specializing in the manufacture and innovation of high quality, high-performance network cabling solutions. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA Siemon has global offices and partners throughout the world. Siemon offers the most comprehensive suite of copper (unshielded and shielded twisted-pair) and fibre cabling systems available. With over 400 active patents specific to structured cabling, Siemon Labs invests heavily in R&D and development of industry standards, underlining the company's long-term commitment to its customers and the industry.

Siemon’s Australian head office is located in Allambie Heights, Sydney, with offices also located in Brisbane and Melbourne.

For more information about this press release, please contact:
Alana Patton
The Siemon Company
Marketing Communications Executive
Tel : (02) 8977 7500

JoAnn Reynolds-Balanda
Director of Community Services
United Way of the Central Naugatuck Valley, Inc.
24 Leavenworth St.
Waterbury, CT 06723
Phone (203) 757-9855
Fax (860) 757-0867