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BellSouth is One of 'America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises' "Attains World-Class Status in Supplier Diversity" ATLANTA, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS) has been named one of "America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises" by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). According to WBENC, the list recognizes fifteen corporations that not only have instituted programs to offer equal access for women-owned suppliers, but also have attained world-class quality in their supplier diversity programs featuring women's business enterprises (WBEs). Dick Anderson, BellSouth's vice chairman - Planning and Administration, will join CEOs and representatives of WBENC's other honorees at a special White House ceremony to be held on Wednesday, March 23, in Washington, DC. "Our support of women entrepreneurs is a wise investment in the future of BellSouth, in our customers, and in the communities we serve. We look forward to continuing our partnership with WBENC to promote supplier diversity and strengthen our relationships with women's business enterprises," said Anderson. BellSouth vice president and Chief Procurement Executive Tim Houghton will also be in Washington to participate in the recognition ceremony. "Recognition by WBENC as a top corporation is a true mark of distinction and strongly affirms our efforts to engage women's business enterprises as suppliers," said Houghton. "We are proud of the many productive relationships we have formed with WBEs, as evidenced by the more than $1.25 billion worth of business we have conducted since 2000." Promoting opportunities and participation by minority-, woman-, and disabled veteran-owned business enterprises (MWDVBEs) as suppliers is a major piece of BellSouth's overall inclusion and diversity strategy. The corporation's supplier diversity program was established in 1984 to facilitate the engagement of MWDVBEs in the procurement process. Since 2000, BellSouth has awarded $2.7 billion of business to MWDVBE suppliers, who have seen their "market share" of the company's procurement budget increase by more than 78%. BellSouth has received extensive recognition for its commitment to supplier diversity. In 2004, the company was named Corporation of the Year by the Georgia Women's Business Council, an affiliate of WBENC. The National Minority Supplier Development Council's (NMSDC) regional affiliates in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama/Mississippi also conferred high honors on the corporation as well as individuals in the supplier diversity program office. Deberah Stone, corporate supplier diversity manager, was named NMSDC's MBE Coordinator of the Year, the single highest professional honor in the field. For more information on supplier diversity at BellSouth, visit http://www.bellsouth.com/suppliers . About BellSouth Corporation (March 2005 version) BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has joint control and 40 percent ownership of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider. Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial-up and high-speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth(R) RealPages.com(R) and The Real Yellow Pages(R). BellSouth believes that diversity and fostering an inclusive environment are critical in maintaining a competitive advantage in today's global marketplace. More information about BellSouth can be found at http://www.bellsouth.com/ . About WBENC The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), founded in 1997, is a leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America's corporations. It also is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. More information on WBENC can be found at http://www.wbenc.org/ DATASOURCE: BellSouth Corporation CONTACT: Angela Brooks of BellSouth Corporation, +1-404-249-2365, or Web site: http://www.bellsouth.com/ http://www.bellsouth.com/suppliers http://www.wbenc.org/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/095650.html

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