DMEF TO HONOR LESTER WUNDERMAN AND THE AGENCY HE FOUNDED

NEW YORK, MARCH 16 – The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) will honor Lester Wunderman and Wunderman, the agency he founded in 1958, at a gala dinner to be held in conjunction with Direct Marketing Days New York on Tuesday, May 25, 2004, at the Bryant Park Grill in New York City.

Mr. Wunderman will be the recipient of the first annual "DMEF Vision Award" in recognition of his uniquely creative and pioneering vision within the direct marketing industry. In 1967, Mr. Wunderman coined the phrase "Direct Marketing" to describe the new type of advertising he was practicing. Over the years, he continued this spirit of innovation, creating the invaluable tools of our business and numerous industry firsts, including bind-in cards, the "gold box," record clubs, and subscription-based consumer products.

"We are privileged to be able to honor one of the true pioneers and innovators of direct marketing," said H. Robert Wientzen, president & CEO, The DMA and Vice-Chairman of DMEF. "Throughout the years, Lester and his agency have been wonderful stewards of the industry, which they helped to create, as well as good friends and colleagues to those of us who have had the opportunity to work with them."

"I am honored to be recognized by the DMEF," said Mr. Wunderman. "The direct marketing industry, by its very nature, is visionary, and it is filled with some of the best and brightest marketing minds. I applaud DMEF’s efforts to champion training and to cultivate the next generation of innovative thinkers," he added.

Wunderman (the agency) will be recognized with the "DMEF Corporate Leadership Award" for the agency’s significant contributions to direct and interactive marketing education. Since its inception, Wunderman has promoted direct marketing education, both internally and externally, around the world.

Both awards will be presented at the first annual New York DMEF Awards Dinner, which will be co-chaired by Guideposts President and CEO John Temple and Goodman & Company Chairman and CEO Susan Goodman.

Additional information regarding the dinner, including a reservation form, is available at www.the-dma.org/dmefnydinner or by calling DMEF Executive Director David Chancey at 212.790.1510.

Additional information about DM Days New York Conference & Exhibition is available at http://www.the-dma.org/dmadmd.

The Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (www.the-dma.org/dmef) is the industry’s premier nonprofit organization working to increase the quality and expand the scope of college-level direct and interactive marketing education. DMEF programs include college faculty and student programs as well as the well-known John D. Yeck Center for Advanced Studies and the highly respected Collegiate ECHO Award national competition.

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