DMEF Kicks Off Second Year of Direct Marketing Leadership Development Program

Goodman&Company, Kraft, and Scholastic Help Students

Bridge the Gap Between the Classroom and the Boardroom

New York, NY, June 19, 2008 ¾ The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) today announced the kick off of the second year of its Direct Marketing Leadership Development Program (DMLDP), an innovative, next-generation, rotational program designed to provide carefully selected and highly qualified recent graduates (program associates) with valuable employment experience through a unique combination of work settings. The DMLDP is just one more facet used by the Foundation to prepare tomorrow’s professional leaders.

“In only one year, our associates will gain real-life experience and marketplace experience that normally could only be attained after several years in the workplace,” said Al Dyon, DMEF chairman and chief marketing officer of DMRA, a database and analytics firm based in Palo Alto, CA. “Our sponsor companies, and ultimately the entire direct marketing community, will benefit by being able to draw on the talents of young professionals with the marketing acumen, analytical skills, and entrepreneurial spirit that drive the direct/interactive marketing field.”

Since 1966, DMEF has worked on multiple fronts to support direct/interactive marketing education at colleges and universities across the country. Now, with the continuation of the DMLDP, the Foundation is in position to help recent college graduates bridge the gap between the classroom and the boardroom.

The program’s second year will officially kick off July 14, 2008, when three associates will begin their rotations — four months at each of the three sponsor companies. Through a restricted grant to DMEF, sponsor companies will pay all salaries, benefits, and program costs.

2008–2009 DMLDP Associates

· Kara Daddario, Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania, English major

· Magda Losonczy, Bernardsville, NJ: Columbia University, English major

· Jessica Young, Cherry Hill, NJ: Duke University, Public Policy major

2008–2009 DMLDP Sponsor Companies

Goodman&Company (www.goodmancompany.com) creates unique value by bridging the gap between management consultants and marketing agencies. Their collaborative approach, informed by expertise spanning the major marketing disciplines and channels, successfully aligns marketing investments with the best opportunities for growth and increased profitability. Goodman&Company has built a track record of success with Global 2000 clients by partnering with senior marketers and line of business executives to create measurable return by optimizing customer-facing channels to drive acquisition and retention. Goodman&Company leverages the power of insights to increase customer lifetime value, and accelerate the marketing organization’s ability to innovate.

Kraft Foods (www.kraft.com) is one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, with 2007 revenues of more than $37 billion. For more than 100 years, Kraft has offered consumers delicious and wholesome foods that fit the way they live. Kraft markets a broad portfolio of iconic brands in more than 150 countries, including nine brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion: Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; Oscar Mayer meats; Philadelphia cream cheese, Maxwell House coffee; Nabisco cookies and crackers and its Oreo brand; Jacobs coffees, Milka chocolates and LU biscuits. Kraft is listed in the Standard & Poor’s 100 and 500 indexes. The company is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index.

Scholastic Corporation (www.scholastic.com) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children’s books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos, and toys. The company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries, and television networks; and the Company’s Internet site.

About Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF)

Headquartered in New York City, the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) works to attract, educate, and place top college students by continuously improving the teaching of world-class direct/interactive marketing and, thereby, expanding and enriching the talent pool of trained, market-ready direct marketers. Established in 1966 by members of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) who wanted to give something back to the community, DMEF is today a separate, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that is supported solely by tax-deductible contributions from individuals, companies, and regional clubs and associations. Funds raised go toward a broad range of world-class educational programs.

Since its founding, thousands of students have taken advantage of DMEF’s educational programs, entering the field with the competitive edge of being “workplace-ready.” Many have gone on to become today’s direct marketing leaders, an indication of the Foundation’s success. In addition, more than 1,800 professors have participated in DMEF programs. Thanks in significant part to the Foundation’s four decades of work, today approximately 250 colleges and universities offer courses in direct/interactive marketing, 20 of which now offer specific direct marketing degrees and certificate programs. For additional information about the DMEF, its mission, and its programs, visit www.the-dmef.org.

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