The Timken Company's China operation, led by James Gresh (President of Timken China), has become Special Olympics East Asia's newest sponsor with a hugely generous grant of US$45,000! Special Olympics' various education initiatives made a deep impression on executives at Timken China. The US$45,000 grant will be used towards SO Get Into It (SOGII) and the Model University Project.

Timken's kind gift will allow the SOGII curriculum, which teaches K-12 students in regular education settings to be the difference in learning values of inclusion, tolerance, and respect, to be launched in international schools in China. This Special Olympics initiative, which has been implemented in countries all over the world, has proven to be one of the most powerful tools for changing attitudes, breaking down barriers, and promoting integration that are the vanguard of human rights practices. Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), an independent international school in Beijing, will be the first international school in China to implement the program this fall, thanks to Timken's support.

The US$45,000 grant from Timken will also go towards our Model University Project, an initiative unique to Special Olympics China. The Model University Project was launched in 2003 with the Chinese Ministry of Education and top-quality physical education universities in China to create model universities that will increase both the quantity and quality of trained Special Olympics coaches, volunteers, and leaders. Timken's grant will enable Special Olympics to launch the University Center of Excellence Initiative. Through this initiative, Special Olympics athletes would have a chance to go to university upon graduation from special school. This initiative was created to give Special Olympics athletes an opportunity for continuing education, vocational training and sports even after they have graduated from their special schools.

Timken recognizes that education continues to be some of the most important work that Special Olympics conducts and their grant will help to "Change Attitudes, Change the World". Our athletes, families, volunteers and staff thank Timken for their great support! We could not carry on our work without the assistance of charitable companies such as Timken.

The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR; www.timken.com) keeps the world turning, with innovative ways to make customers' products run smoother, faster and more efficiently. Timken's highly engineered bearings, alloy steels and related products and services turn up everywhere - on land, on the seas and in space. With operations in 27 countries, sales of $4.5 billion in 2004 and 26,000 employees, Timken is Where You Turn(tm) for better performance.