SAN ANTONIO — Recent news reports describing the devastation left behind by Asian-coast tsunamis and other disasters around the world have motivated many people to participate in supporting non-profit and charitable organizations. Cause-related checks are one way for account holders to provide financial assistance to charitable organizations. The proceeds from the sales of cause-related checks provide hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to charities and non-profit organizations.

Cause-related check designs are offered by Clarke American to financial institution partners and their account holders to pay tribute to and financially support more than a dozen charitable organizations related to children, education and the environment. Included in the group are checks that benefit Save the Children Federation and the American Red Cross, both currently responding to the needs of victims of the recent disaster in Asia. Other check designs in the group aid organizations such as The Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) and Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, Reading Is Fundamental®, and the Children’s Miracle Network to name a few.

When account holders purchase cause-related checks, Clarke American donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale to the cause represented on the check. If the account holder chooses the Save the Children check design, for example, the company donates 6% of retail sales to Save the Children. Check writers have responded positively to the checks, and the resulting benefits to individual causes are significant. Last year alone, organizations represented on the checks received a total of almost $900,000 from sales. Since the program began in 1994, sales have provided more than $4.7 million in financial support to charities and nonprofit groups.

When an account holder chooses to purchase one of the cause-related checks, they not only make a contribution to that organization – they also promote the organization every time they write a check.

About Clarke American
Clarke American provides checks and check-related products, contact center services, Internet and direct marketing solutions for the financial services industry. Each year, the company produces more than 10 billion personal and business checks in a variety of formats for more than 4,000 banks, credit unions and other financial institutions nationwide. The company has more than 3,200 associates and a national network of electronically linked production facilities and customer service centers located throughout the United States.

Clarke American is a recipient of the 2001 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the manufacturing category, awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and is the recipient of the 2001 Texas Award for Performance Excellence given by the Quality Texas Foundation. For more information about Clarke American, visit www.clarkeamerican.com.

For information about this press release contact
Cary Corbin
(830) 609-1932
Debbie Talley
(210) 697-1228