The Viewpoint Project Debuts in St. Louis

Adolescent Photographers Work Displayed Across St. Louis During Month of April

St. Louis, MO, April 3, 2002 -- Starting April 5, the Viewpoint Project debuts in St. Louis. Creative results of Viewpoint, an initiative involving student photographers from Long Middle School, will be displayed on bus signs, billboards and MetroLink posters, and at City Museum throughout April. The initiative explores how adolescents who live in the city view the world in which they live. Washington Universitys School of Art and Young Audiences of St. Louis, which helps schools integrate the arts into curricula, co-sponsor the program.

Junior-level photography students at Washington Universitys School of Art, led by Richard Krueger, assistant professor of photography and creator of the project, and Young Audiences staff have been meeting weekly with Long teachers and students to discuss self-expression through photography and the important role it has played in documenting American history. Long students use specially loaded black and white disposable cameras to document their daily lives and South St. Louis urban neighborhood.

These photographic images offer remarkable insights into the hearts and minds of the adolescents who produced them," says Krueger. We are gratified that Viewpoint enhances learning at Long Middle School and Washington University, and positively impacts students involved and the St. Louis community."

The GenAmerica Foundation, the principal funder, donated $25,000 to launch the Viewpoint initiative. Washington University donated $15,000 and Young Audiences, Inc., the local agencys parent organization in New York City, donated $10,000.

Kevin C. Eichner, president and CEO, GenAmerica Financial Corp., observes, The Viewpoint Project is an inspiring example of how creative organizations can work together to incorporate the arts into schools to enrich the learning environment and encourage self expression."

Kathleen Brittain Luther, executive director of Young Audiences of St. Louis, says, Viewpoint demonstrates the positive value of educational collaborations that encourage intellectual curiosity and creativity. We are thrilled to be working with the extraordinary talent of these Washington University School of Art students and Long Middle School, where the student population is quite diverse and the staff is so committed."

The GenAmerica Foundation, established in 1978, supports organizations in arts, education and human services. GenAmerica Financial Corp., based in St. Louis, is an affiliate of MetLife, Inc. For information, please visit the companys web site at www.genamerica.com.

MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional customers. The MetLife companies serve approximately 10 million individual households in the U.S. and companies and institutions with 33 million employees and members. MetLife also has international insurance operations in 13 countries. For more information about MetLife, please visit the company's web site at www.metlife.com.