Media Inquiries Betsy Ringham (will be on-site) Burson-Marsteller for CDW and LABI Office: 312-596-3491 Mobile: 312-493-1665 E-mail: Betsy_Ringham@chi.bm.com   MEDIA ALERT: CDW and LABI to Make Announcement Concerning Gulf Coast Small Businesses Hurricane-Damaged Small Businesses Left with Burden of Funding Rebuilding Efforts THE BIG PICTURE: This year's catastrophic hurricanes left hundreds of thousands of small businesses destroyed and their employees displaced throughout Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The facts: A record $2.96 billion has been raised in fewer than four months to help victims of this year's Gulf Coast hurricanes and yet little is earmarked specifically to help small businesses (Source: Center on Philanthropy, Indiana University) Small businesses create two-thirds of new private sector jobs in America, employ more than half of all workers, and account for more than half of the output of our economy (Source: White House report on Supporting America's Small Businesses) Small businesses represent more than 99.7 percent of all employers in the United States (Source: SBA Office of Advocacy) According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 205,995 small businesses exist in the four states affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, creating a large need for funds However, red tape associated with current relief loan programs has left many small businesses to find financial assistance alternatives. CDW Corporation, a leading provider of name-brand technology products and services to businesses, and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), Louisiana's premier business association, will make an announcement at 10:30 a.m. CST on Tuesday, December 20, addressing this concern. WHEN: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 Press conference begins at 10:30 a.m. CST WHERE: Sun Interiors, Ltd. 2329 Severn Ave. Metairie, LA (Approx. 9 miles from New Orleans airport) Click here for directions. WHAT: Press conference unveiling news from CDW and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) at Sun Interiors. LIVE AUDIO FEED: A listen-only live audio feed of the press conference will be available to reporters from 10:15 a.m. CST. The dial-in number for the broadcast is 800-230-1951. Please enter confirmation code 810591. AVAILABLE INTERVIEWS: John Edwardson, CEO and chairman, CDW CDW coworkers volunteering in the Gulf Coast Carl Franzella, co-owner, Sun Interiors Daniel Juneau, president, LABI Maura Donahue, chairperson, U.S. Chamber of Commerce