PowerBar Inc. today announced that it will make a donation in the amount of $26,000 to the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF), the charitable educational organization dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and fitness. The company's contribution results from the success of the "Empowering Tomorrow" program conducted in Fall 2003 by PowerBar(R) PriaTM, the energy bar leader's line of nutritional snack bars for women.

In an effort to create awareness and raise funds for national women's health and fitness educational programs, PowerBar(R) PriaTM and the Women's Sports Foundation created the "Empowering Tomorrow" promotion, an online sweepstakes and donation match program. Through the cause-related marketing program, the company invited consumers to visit powerbar.com and offer personal pledges to help fund the Women's Sports Foundation's educational efforts. For its part, PowerBar guaranteed to match all consumer donations made to the Foundation during the three-month program. Sixty-four participating consumers offered a combined total of $6,010 in personal donations. With PowerBar's matching contribution, a total gift of $26,000 will be made to the WSF.

"I really believe in the Women's Sports Foundation's mission, and know from personal and professional experience that girls' participation in sports can produce enormous positive payoffs," said Bess Bendet of San Francisco, a WSF donor through the PowerBar(R) PriaTM Empowering Tomorrow program. "I believe that the next generation of leaders in politics, business, and social change movements will be women athletes as a result of the confidence they built through athletic involvement early on in life."

The PowerBar(R) PriaTM donation will help support the Women's Sports Foundation's development and distribution of national education programs, which target more than one million girls and women each year. Funds also will be allocated to the Foundation's 800 information line, which answers 100,000 inquiries annually about girl's and women's health, sport and fitness, as well as www.GoGetFit.com, the WSF's online resource that provides the latest information for any fitness level from how to get started to choosing a sport or fitness activity that is right for you.

"As PowerBar(R) PriaTM is designed to help active women be their best by achieving personal health and wellness goals, partnering with the Women's Sports Foundation was a natural fit," said Michelle Sitton, PowerBar Marketing Manager. "We're thrilled that our contribution will help fund the Foundation's efforts to encourage girls and women to play sports, lead active lifestyles and reach their greatest potential on and off the playing field."

Introduced in 2001, the PowerBar(R) PriaTM line consists of seven 110-calorie crispy, chewy nutritional energy snack bars covered with either a rich chocolatey or creamy yogurt coating. The perfect-sized 28-gram snack, PowerBar(R) PriaTM bars combine 23 essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, folic acid and iron, with 4-5 grams of soy protein. PowerBar(R) PriaTM is designed to satisfy mid-day snack cravings without weighing you down. Containing zero cholesterol, low sodium and no more than 3.5 grams of fat, PowerBar(R) PriaTM bars are a healthy alternative to traditional snack foods like cookies, potato chips and candy bars, which typically contain 250 or more calories per serving and high levels of sodium, cholesterol and fat.

About PowerBar
PowerBar Inc. is the creator and leader of the energy bar market. PowerBar proudly fuels world-class athletes including Lance Armstrong, sponsors premier events such as the Boston Marathon and is the Official Nutritional Energy Bar Supplier to the U.S. Olympic Team. Headquartered in Berkeley, Calif., the company's product line includes PowerBar(R) Performance energy bars, PowerBar Harvest(R) energy bars, PowerBar(R) ProteinPlusTM protein bars, PowerBar(R) PriaTM nutritional snack bars, PowerBar(R) Energy BitesTM, PowerBar(R) PowerGel(R) energy gels, the PowerBar(R) Beverage System and PowerBar(R) ProteinPlusTM Carb SelectTM and PowerBar(R) PriaTM Carb SelectTM bars. For more information visit powerbar.com.

About WSF
Founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a charitable educational organization dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and fitness. The Foundation's Participation, Education, Advocacy, Research and Leadership programs are made possible by individual and corporate contributions. The Foundation is located in Nassau County, N.Y. For more information, please call the Foundation at 800-227-3988 or visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org or AOL Keyword: WSF.