SAN ANTONIO, TX. – Clarke American, Inc., a leading provider of checks and check-related products, contact center services, Internet and direct marketing solutions for the financial services industry, has been named the winner of the Spirit of Caring Gifts-In-Kind Award for 2004 by the United Way of Central New York. The award recognizes outstanding organizations that donate material goods or professional services to the United Way and the community agencies it supports. Clarke American representatives received the honor in a United Way awards ceremony in Syracuse, New York, on January 27.

The award comes as a result of periodic donations of cardboard made by the company’s Syracuse production facility to the United Way organization, which in turn distributes the material to a number of central New York community agencies for their own programs. More than a year ago, one of Clarke American’s Syracuse plant associates, Jeff Luce, was inspired by the company’s internal process improvement program and a United Way meeting about volunteerism to propose a new use for the scrap material, similar to poster board, that the plant regularly receives as packing filler with other supplies. As an alternative to recycling, Luce suggested that the leftover white cardboard be donated to the United Way for arts and crafts projects in daycare, after-school and other community programs. The idea proved to be so successful that today the United Way receives cardboard donations from the plant every two weeks, and many agencies specifically request this “trash turned treasure” for their programs.

“Clarke American strongly believes in giving back to the communities in which we live and work,” says Charles L. Korbell, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Clarke American. “Providing assistance to organizations that help individuals become self-sufficient and productive strengthens our communities. The United Way supports the community at large and helps meet critical needs in the most effective ways possible. For that reason, we are especially pleased to be recognized by the United Way of Central New York with this prestigious award.”

In 2004, Clarke American was also named Corporate Volunteer of the Year – Large Business by the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.

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