Entrants in 2008 Johannesburg JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge will benefit economic empowerment by helping the Johannesburg Housing Company..

Capacity crowd in Johannesburg
to run for economic empowerment
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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, February 5, 2008 – When a capacity crowd of more than 10,000 runners and walkers participates in the March 6 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, they realize their efforts will benefit an important subsidiary of the Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC).

JPMorgan will make a donation for each Corporate Challenge entry to Makhulong a Matala Community Development Services (Makhulong). Makhulong, a community development subsidiary of the JHC, was established as a dedicated entity to ensure that the social and human asset building focus of JHC remains properly funded and resourced.

The organization is involved in various initiatives. All of its programs are aimed at building relationships within the communities to stimulate economic empowerment especially for children, women and young adults. The activities of the community development office are numerous – a referral system for those requiring individual counseling and advice; life skills training for adults and children in the areas of financial skills, HIV-Aids, and social relationships; social audits of new building projects to ensure that there are adequate social facilities (e.g. crèches, libraries) in the area.

“JPMorgan is proud to be associated with the Makhulong a Matala Community Development Services,” said Jon Zehner, head of sub-Saharan Africa, JPMorgan. “The benefits of the Corporate Challenge go beyond physical well being of the participants. It extends to the community through this donation.”

Last year, the Series drew over 225,000 participants from more than 7,500 companies worldwide, reached full capacity in seven cities, and had an increase in entries in the other five. Since 2005, donations from the Corporate Challenge to worthy not-for-profits have totalled nearly $1.8 million, earning the Corporate Challenge “Charitable Event of the Year” honors from USA Track & Field.