NEW YORK and RED WING, Minn., April 25, 2006 - Monster ®, the leading global online career and recruitment resource, and Red Wing Shoe Company, one of the most respected manufacturers of hard-working shoes and boots around the globe, today announced a joint recovery effort aimed at helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters find jobs and get back on their feet. This new association furthers Monster´s disaster relief support and initiatives which began soon after Hurricane Katrina hit last August to help survivors rebuild their lives.
Working together, the companies will leverage Monster´s online job seeking and career expertise and Red Wing´s strong retail presence across the Gulf Region to help victims find employment and job skills training, and encourage more people to get involved in the ongoing effort to rebuild the area. The companies also will continue to offer joint volunteer services at job fairs in the region, with Monster representatives providing career and job search assistance, and Red Wing representatives advising relief workers and other skilled laborers on the best protective and comfortable footwear for their respective jobs.
Beginning next week, the companies will launch a six-month, in-store promotion in Red Wing´s more than 500 affiliated retail stores across Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Consumers who visit Red Wing stores will be encouraged to visit www.disasterrelief.monster.com to submit their resumes, search for jobs and access other helpful information. Visitors also will be encouraged to share their stories of hope and inspiration on the site, and will have an opportunity to enter to win a free pair of Red Wing boots and a Monster "Career Re-Start" package consisting of free Monster resume and salary report services, plus a Dell desktop computer.
In addition to the in-store promotion, Monster and Red Wing will continue to contribute their expertise and volunteer services at a series of local job fairs, including the upcoming Northeast Mississippi Job Fair on April 27 in Mahew from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 30 employers and as many as 2,000 job seekers are expected to attend the event, spearheaded by the Governor´s Job Fair Network of Mississippi.
At the job fair, Monster volunteers will continue to assist job seekers in developing and posting their resumes, applying for jobs and connecting with employers to find employment opportunities. Attendees also will have an opportunity to win one of several Monster "Career Re-Start" packages. Red Wing volunteers will be assisting people who are seeking employment related to the rebuilding effort by providing advice on the proper safety footwear and giving away a free pair of boots every hour.
"We are proud to partner with the Red Wing Shoe Company to help provide on-the-ground assistance to Hurricane Katrina victims at the community level, and assist local and state government in expediting the re-employment of survivors through local job fairs," said Andrew J. McKelvey, Chairman and CEO of Monster Worldwide. "Together, we stand committed to continue helping people in the Gulf Region get back to work and rebuild their lives."
"We are honored to provide high-quality work boots for the unsung heroes of our country´s workforce," said Dave Murphy, president and COO, Red Wing Shoe Company. "We respect the enduring work ethic and passion for quality of our tradespeople, and we´re looking forward to helping them find employment and supporting them as they rebuild the Gulf Region."
About Red Wing Shoe Company
From its beginnings as a tiny corner shop in Red Wing, Minn., in 1905, Red Wing Shoe Company - a privately-held company - has grown into the most respected manufacturer of hard-working boots and shoes around the globe. The company is dedicated to creating high-quality shoes and boots made with the finest hand-craftsmanship. Product lines include Red Wing Shoes and WORXTM brand work boots, Irish Setter, Vasque ® and Carhartt Footwear.
Today, with manufacturing facilities located in Red Wing, Minn., Potosi, Mo., and Danville, Ky., Red Wing Shoe Company´s products provide the utmost in comfort, quality and durability.
About Monster Worldwide
Founded in 1967, Monster Worldwide, Inc. is the parent company of Monster ®, the leading global online careers and recruitment resource. The company also owns TMP Worldwide, one of the world's largest Recruitment Advertising agency networks. Headquartered in New York with approximately 4,600 employees in 25 countries, Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ-100 Index. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at www.monsterworldwide.com.
Monster ® is the leading global online careers and recruitment resource. A division of Monster Worldwide, Monster was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts, USA. Monster has 26 local language and content sites in 24 countries worldwide. Monster is known for connecting quality job seekers at all levels with leading employers across all industries and offers employers innovative technology and superior services that give them more control over the recruiting process. More information is available at www.monster.com or by calling 1-800-MONSTER. To learn more about Monster's industry-leading employer products and services, please visit http://recruiter.monster.com.
Special Note: Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information contained herein, the statements made in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding Monster Worldwide, Inc.'s strategic direction, prospects and future results. Certain factors, including factors outside of Monster Worldwide's control, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements, including economic and other conditions in the markets in which Monster Worldwide operates, risks associated with acquisitions, competition, seasonality and the other risks discussed in Monster Worldwide's Form 10-K and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which discussions are incorporated in this release by reference.
Contacts:
Maria Battaglia
Monster
978-461-8683
Maria.Battaglia[at]monster.com
Christian Harper
Weber Shandwick, for Monster
(212) 445-8135
charper[at]webershandwick.com
Kelly Puspoki
Weber Shandwick, for Red Wing
(952) 346-6214
kpuspoki[at]webershandwick.com