Residents and employees of businesses in the Hicksville community are invited to join corporate executives across Long Island for the 17th Annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge(r). The 3.5-mile event, open to runners, walkers and joggers, will be held at Jones Beach on Tuesday, July 30 at 7 p.m. At this time, New York Islanders great and recent Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Clark Gillies will be on hand to start the race, which begins and ends at Parking Field 5 (near the intersection of Wantagh Parkway and Ocean Drive.)

Catholic Charities and Family Aides, Inc., both located in Hicksville, were among the record-setting 6,995 companies that competed in last year's JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge(r), an event owned and operated by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM). The race has seen its participation rise each year, topping out at more than 8,400 runners in 2001. The international series is now in its 26th year, starting in 1977 with 200 runners from 50 companies in one New York City race, and has grown to over 200,000 competitors annually in 16 cities in four countries.

Last year, Shoreham's Kevin Krause, a member of the Suffolk County Police Department, edged Carlos Castro of Levittown by three seconds to win the individual men's title, breaking Hicksville's Don DiDonato's recent stronghold on the crown. Baldwin resident Diane Bownes, competing for Paddy Magee's, claimed her second women's crown in the past three years with a convincing win. Team champions last year were Brookhaven National Lab (men's) and the Board of Education of New York City (women's and coed).

The series seeks to provide corporate employees with an outlet to compete and interact away from the daily tension of the business world. What makes this event distinct is that every member of a company can participate, regardless of skill level or standing in the company. It's the perfect opportunity for all colleagues - from entry level to the corner office - to build fitness and camaraderie in a fun setting.

"It's a spectacular event for Long Island," said Joe Purcell, senior vice president of JPMorgan Chase. "All of the companies are from Long Island, they come out here for a beach party, to have a barbecue and share stories. One of the JPMorgan Chase brand commitments is to make life easier for our customers and let's add some fun in there too. The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge provides that opportunity."

Individual awards will be presented to the fastest overall male/female and male/female CEO competitors while team awards will be given in the following divisions:

* Men's Division- teams consisting of five men

* Women's Division- teams consisting of three women

* Co-ed Division- teams consisting of two men and two women

Winning teams in each division will advance to compete in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship, which will be staged on New York City's renowned Park Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 5.

In addition to Long Island, the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge will race through several other tri-state area cities in 2002, including New York on July 25 and Paramus, NJ on Aug. 14. Corporations are invited to compete in as many races as they wish.

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. is a premier global financial services firm with assets of $714 billion and operations in more than 50 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, asset management, private equity, custody and transaction services, retail and middle market financial services, and e-finance. Headquartered in New York, JPMorgan Chase serves more than 30 million consumer customers and the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients.

For more information on how to register for the 2002 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Long Island, call 349-7649 or visit www.jpmorganchasecc.com.