Contact: Patricia M. Mikelson
Highlights Corporate Communications
pmmikelson@highlights-corp.com or 614-324-7003
Welcome Comments by Wes Lucas, President & CEO of Quebecor World
Printing of the One-Billionth Copy of Highlights at Quebecor World's Plant
Clarksville, Tenn., June 14, 2006
Thank you, Ed, and thank you all for being here today.
It is a great pleasure to be able to speak here today on behalf of Quebecor World's employees on the occasion of the billionth copy of Highlights for Children. It is tremendously rewarding to print a magazine that has touched the lives of so many children through so many generations. It has been our privilege to print most of the billion copies of Highlights®.
I want to thank everyone at Highlights for allowing Quebecor World to be a part of your world by letting us be your partner in helping children read and learn. There can be no greater mission than that, and nothing could make us prouder.
In the U.S. alone, the direct Quebecor World family numbers approximately 20,000. If we estimate two children each, that number swells to 60,000. And I suspect that all of us, at one time or another, in school, at home or in the doctor's office, have been personally touched by the Highlights for Children experience.
Our business relationship with Highlights for Children is a true partnership and one we hold up as a model. We work very hard everyday to provide you with the best print solution, a superior value product, and customer service. At Quebecor World, our customers' success is our success and clearly that is the attitude shared by all of you here at Clarksville as demonstrated by your work with Highlights. I would especially like to thank Greg Bumb, Clarksville plant manager, and our entire Clarksville team for your work and for being such gracious hosts on this important occasion. I commend the team's commitment to Highlights and to all our customers. I would like to extend my personal thanks and appreciation and those of our Board of Directors to each and every one of you.
Thank you all. Enjoy the day.
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Highlights for Children, Inc. (www.Highlights.com) has focused on helping children become their best selves for generations. Highlights magazine celebrated the printing and delivery of the one-billionth copy of the magazine and its 60th anniversary through summer 2006. Highlights High Five™, devoted to pre- and emerging readers (ages two to six) will publish in January 2007. On the Web, www.HighlightsKids.com offers children interactive content related to each issue of the magazine, as well as independent activities such as "Click-and-Play Hidden Pictures®," e-cards, games, craft activities, "Mystery Messages," jokes, and riddles. Devoted to "Fun with a Purpose®," Highlights for Children also offers children, parents, grandparents, and educators a broad range of products including the Highlights for Children Book Clubs (Puzzlemania®, Mathmania®, Which Way USA?®, Top Secret Adventures™, and Hidden Pictures Playground®). Highlights Toy Catalog (www.Highlights.com) selects quality toys, games, craft activities, puzzles, and other products that children will love and parents can trust. Corporate offices are in Columbus, Ohio, and the editorial offices are in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
For more information or to arrange an interview with a Highlights for Children spokesperson, please contact Patricia M. Mikelson, Highlights Corporate Communications at pmmikelson@highlights-corp.com or 614-324-7003.