(STAMFORD CONN. September 25 2000) – A poster promoting literacy featuring WWE Superstars was one of the best selling posters for the American Library Association (ALA) in July and August.

Sold out twice at a summer ALA convention the poster "Know Your Role: Read" is part of the American Library Association’s Celebrity READ campaign and is consistent with the WWE Entertainment Inc.’s ongoing commitment to community outreach. WWE Superstars The Rock Mick Foley and Chyna appear in the poster with their favorite books encouraging teens to read. Affiliated with the poster is a "Know Your Role: Read" bookmark featuring The Rock.

According to Lisa Orzepowski Marketing Manager of ALA Graphics the WWE poster printed during the first week in April is now one of the ALA’s top sellers. The poster is projected to be the best selling ALA Read poster ever. The poster targets teenage boys one of the hardest markets to reach with library services.

"There are a lot of teens who watch us on television so we wanted them to see us with books in our hands to show them that reading’s important and that you can get so much out of books " Chyna said during the photo shoot. She added "There’s a lot to be said for opening up a good book."

Mick Foley said "It’s unfortunate but kids who don’t grow up reading don’t grow up to be adults who read. It’s important for kids to read because it’s something you do your whole life."

The Superstars all advocates of literacy chose to hold their favorite books for the photo shoot. Mick Foley a Civil War buff is shown holding one of his favorite books Battle Cry of Freedom. Chyna a fan of author Wally Lamb holds I Know This Much is True and The Rock holds A Treasury of Classical Mythology.

The "Know Your Role – Read" poster can be obtained from the ALA Graphics Catalog and the ALA Online Store www.alastore.ala.org. To request a catalog call 800-545-2433 ext. 5046.

WWE Entertainment Inc. (NMS: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford Connecticut with sales offices in New York City Chicago and Toronto. The company can be found online at WWE.com and WWECORPBIZ.com.

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Contacts:

Lisa Orzepowski American Library Association 312-280-2426
Gary Davis WWE 203-353-5066

Background Information

The non-profit American Library Association is the voice of American’s libraries. The ALA’s READ posters have become a valuable and recognized way to reach out to reluctant young readers across the country. Other stars also featured in similar posters include Oprah Winfrey Mel Gibson Cindy Crawford and Denzel Washington.

The idea for the poster was born when Virginia Stanley of HarperCollins publishing contacted Kathryn Leide at ALA graphics with the proposal for the poster. HarperCollins is affiliated with Regan Books the publishers of Mankind Have a Nice Day by Mick Foley The Rock Says … by The Rock and Chyna’s forthcoming biography.

Mick Foley appeared at a luncheon during the ALA’s Annual Conference held in Chicago in July to promote the poster and literacy. More than 500 people came to hear Foley speak including teenagers professionals and librarians.