Women In Action: Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kristin Marks / Lisa Arledge Powell
MediaSource (614) 932-9950
kmarks@mediasourcetv.com
larledge@mediasourcetv.com

Women In Action Recognized in Nationwide VOICES Contest
California Woman Chosen from over 3,000 Women for "Women In Action" Program

Houston, TX, May 17, 2003 -- Karen Nemsick, founder of Women In Action, was chosen by Charming Shoppes, Inc., as one of 100 VOICES winners - a contest celebrating remarkable women from across the nation who raised their voices in their community and created positive change. Ms. Nemsick and the other 99 inspirational women from across the country gathered in Houston, Texas for a recognition ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2003, in their honor.

VOICES honored the winners of the company's VOICES Essay Contest, which was held last year in all Charming Shoppes stores (Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, and Catherines Plus Sizes). More than 3,000 women nationwide submitted stories about their leadership in an essay of 300 words or less. The women that were chosen were ordinary citizens who have made a difference in their community by helping others, and the 100 winners were chosen based on the programs they created, the creativity in which they garnered and used resources, and the overall impact their initiative has had in their community.

Karen Nemsick was chosen for her program Women In Action which provides outdoor learning opportunities that teach teamwork and communication skills to women moving from welfare to work. Through hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking, Women In Action teaches teamwork and communication skills and challenges women to try something new. Since 1999 over 200 women have participated in these confidence-building activities.

Dorrit J. Bern, Chairman and CEO of Charming Shoppes, Inc., and founder of VOICES says, "I'm always thrilled to learn about all the remarkable endeavors women take on and accomplish every single day. As the CEO of a company that serves women, I feel it's important to recognize and celebrate these unsung heroines of everyday life." The VOICES event honored a total of one hundred women from more than 30 states including California, Michigan, Oregon, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, and Colorado.

Charming Shoppes, Inc., is a family of retail apparel companies serving the fashion needs of women in her many roles and lifestyles. In addition to providing apparel, Charming Shoppes, Inc., is committed to women and their communities, addressing their issues through education and awareness. Charming Shoppes is the largest plus-size specialty apparel retailer in America, with over 2,200 stores nationwide. The company's goal is to offer a variety of fashion choices by expanding its family of brands that cater to this diverse customer segment. The corporation serves the plus-size woman through three distinct brands: Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug (including Fashion Bug Plus) and Catherines Plus Sizes. Through their varied fashion concepts, the stores offer budget to moderate price points, classic to trendy fashion tastes and mall and strip center shopping venues for a wide range of ethnically diverse women. Charming Shoppes also serves the fashion apparel needs of the Misses and Junior customer through their Fashion Bug brand. You can find them on the web at www.charmingshoppes.com.

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