SBLI USA & THE NEWARK BEARS DISTRIBUTE TICKETS TO NEWARK ORGANIZATIONS TO BENEFIT NEEDY CHILDREN

100 youngsters from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark to Attend Season Opener

NEWARK, N.J. (PRWEB) May 3, 2003 - The 2002 Atlantic League Champions return to Newark's Riverfront Stadium tonight for their season opener against the Bridgeport Bluefish. Cheering in the stands will be 100 youngsters from the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, who will be at the game courtesy of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc.

For the third year in a row, the financial services company and the Bears have entered into a season-long collaboration in which they are donating hundreds of tickets to Newark area charitable organizations.

In addition to the Boys & Girls Club of Newark, they are donating tickets to the Focus Hispanic Center for Community Development Inc., the International Youth Organization, the Urban League of Essex County, the YMWCA of Newark and Vicinity-Emergency Residence Program, the Salvation Army Ironbound Boys and Girls Club and the United Way of Essex and West Hudson. Recipients will include summer school students, the children of Welfare to Work participants as well as children and parents living in homeless shelters.

SBLI USA, which offers insurance and financial services products to value-conscious consumers, is based in New York City but has 120 employees and a state-of-the-art operations and call center on Broad Street in Newark. Both SBLI USA and the Bears are committed to Newark's economic revitalization.

"We are proud of the Bear's success in Newark, our second home," said Vikki L. Pryor, president and CEO of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. "Sharing summer evenings with so many of our Newark neighbors is just another way of living our mission -- of helping families and especially our young people build our futures and achieve our dreams."

Said Bears owner Rick Cerone, "Just like SBLI USA, the Newark Bears are committed to the ideals of community service. And we're proud to be contributing to the re-birth of our city. Together, we are improving our community spirit."

John Mack, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark, expressed gratitude to SBLI USA for allowing youngsters to participate in the excitement of the Bears' season opener. "There's nothing better for our kids - and their parents. The chance to have a close-up look at the team -- working together - is something that you can't get in most stadiums. Baseball is an important American tradition and thanks to SBLI USA, our youngsters are part of it."

About SBLI USA

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. is a financial services company that is committed to the value-conscious people who make America work. The company is dedicated to building lifelong relationships with customers and empowering them with the education and tools they need to take control of their financial destinies.

SBLI USA and its subsidiaries are licensed in 50 states and Puerto Rico. With more than $1.3 billion in assets, $123 million in surplus capital, 240 employees and over 400,000 customers, the company is committed to offering affordable, flexible and easy-to-access products through a variety of integrated channels, including direct mail, telemarketing, the Internet and licensed agents, as it expands nationally.

SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. is the parent company to SBLI USA Holdings, Inc., which owns subsidiary companies S.USA Life Insurance Company, Inc., SBLI USA Diversified Services Company, Inc. and SBLI USA Brokerage Services Company, Inc.

Additional information about SBLI USA products and services can be found at www.sbliusa.com <http://www.sbliusa.com>.

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