Raleigh, N.C. — April 1, 2003— Powell, 12, from Rougemont wants to be a "car customizer" when he grows up. So the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina enlisted the help of long-time supporter, local GM dealer Bobby Murray Chevrolet, to set the wheels in motion to help make the youngster's wish come true.

Powell's wish is possible thanks to the ongoing national sponsorship of the Make-A-Wish Foundation by the International Union, UAW (UAW-GM) and General Motors (GM), the largest in the history of the Foundation.

On March 18, Powell visited the dealership, 1820 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, to choose his favorite model Chevy truck from the lot and to meet with dealership employees to plan customizing and accessorizing details.

On April 7, Powell — accompanied by his family, including sister Courtney, 16, and brother, William, 9, all wearing specially tailored shop shirts with their names emblazoned on them — will work with employees to load the truck with all the extras (including lights, ground effects, skirts, adhesive graphics, rims and grills). The truck will later be sold on the Bobby Murray lot.

"I am so excited that Bobby Murray and Make-A-Wish^® are going to let me customize a truck!" says Powell enthusiastically.

Adds Dennis Celorie, CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina, "It is so gratifying to know that we've made a difference in the lives of 1,000 children in eastern North Carolina. Support from national sponsors like UAW-GM and General Motors and from local community members like the people at Bobby Murray Chevrolet made it possible to reach this milestone and allows us to continue helping other kids. If you see the face of just one child — who has been through so much, but has just heard that his or her wish is going to be granted — you'd know why this mission is so important."

In 2001, Bobby Murray Chevrolet's service department — looking to make a philanthropic commitment — instituted a community awareness program, which generates a monthly donation to the local chapter of the Foundation. Every customer receives a survey following a visit to the dealership's service department. Returning it generates a donation to Make-A-Wish. Additionally, on March 15, the dealership was on hand to loan a yellow Avalanche to the chapter, enabling the group to participate in the town's upcoming St. Patrick's Day parade.

"When the service department was looking to get involved with a charity, we actually took a poll of the guys in the shop asking who they'd like to support," recalls Marc Lynn, service director, who first became aware of Make-A-Wish in 1992 when he was volunteering in the neo-natal ICU of the local hospital, sitting with children to allow parents a break. "Make-A-Wish worked its way into every conversation. Overwhelmingly, that's who people wanted to support.

"This is the next step in getting involved," he continues. "It's the first time we've directly helped grant a wish. Kevin Michael, our accessory installer, who's like a big kid himself, has taken this on as a personal challenge. Scott Tilley, our accessories salesperson, is very excited. They'll probably come up with more ideas than Powell. Even people not directly involved are excited. For sure, it's about the kids...and about making a commitment to the community. We're doing something that matters."

The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the U.S. and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 161,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish^®.

Founded in 1985, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina has granted more than 990 wishes to children in 49 counties in eastern North Carolina. Make-A-Wish does not solicit wishes and only accepts referrals from parents/guardians, medical professionals or from the child him/herself. After a medical authorization from the medical doctor, a wish granting team of volunteers meets with the child and his/her family to determine the child's wish request. Family financial position is not a concern and is not a consideration when reviewing and granting a wish request.

Together, the International Union, UAW Center for Human Resources (UAW-GM CHR) and the General Motors Corporation (GM) are committed to the largest sponsorship in the history of the Foundation and have helped to grant thousands of children's wishes all across America.

For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, call 800-722-9474, or visit www.wish.org. For more information about UAW-GM's national sponsorship of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, go to www.wishworks.org, or call 877-947-4967.