(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 24, 2000 ) Two talented young female artists, one from California and one from Oklahoma, have been chosen as the winners of the ninth annual Pier 1/UNICEF "Kids Helping Kids" Greeting Card Contest. Their artwork will join a list of legendary artists who have also designed UNICEF cards, including Warhol, Picasso and Matisse.

Peers Around the World

Sponsored by Pier 1 Imports, the contest encouraged children to express their holiday wishes for their peers around the world by designing original greeting cards for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF that reflect the theme "Kids Helping Kids." Both winning designs were produced as UNICEF greeting cards and are on sale exclusively at Pier 1 Imports stores and at http://www.pier1.com.

Winners were selected in two age groups - 7 and under, and 8 to 13. Seven-year-old Megan Trager of Saratoga, California, won the younger category and 10-year-old Michelle Shaw of Tulsa, Oklahoma, won the older division. Both will be honored at a special luncheon on Dec. 4 at Serendipity 3 in New York City.

"Our card contest winners' designs are an important part of the UNICEF card collection in Pier 1 stores every year," said Marvin J. Girouard, chairman and chief executive officer for Pier 1 Imports. "Pier 1 is proud to support the U.S. Fund for UNICEF as they encourage our nation's youth to have a better understanding of children's needs around the world."

"Using the 'Kids Helping Kids' Greeting Card Contest as a springboard, children are empowered to use their creative energy to help other children worldwide," said Charles J. Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "This contest couldn't happen without the dedication and support of Pier 1 Imports. Thanks to their generosity, UNICEF can continue protecting the rights of children and ensuring their survival, development and right to a safe and happy childhood."

Record-Breaking 1999

A record-breaking 240,000 packages of UNICEF greeting cards were sold in the United States and Canada during the 1999 holiday season by Pier 1 Imports, the world's largest retailer of UNICEF greeting cards. Over the past 15 years, Pier 1 Imports has contributed over $12 million to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF through holiday greeting card sales.

Proceeds from the sale of UNICEF Greeting Cards save lives and build brighter futures for children around the globe. The sale of the cards supports UNICEF programs that provide lifesaving medicines, vaccines, nutritious foods, primary education, clean water and sanitation and emergency relief for millions of children and women in more than 160 countries and territories.

For more information about the luncheon or this year's winners, please call Joy Rich, Pier 1 Imports at (817)252-8345 or Marissa Buckanoff, U.S. Fund for UNICEF at (212) 922-2485.

About Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (NYSE: PIR) is North America's largest specialty retailer of imported decorative home furnishings, gifts and related items with stores in 48 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Japan.

To obtain a free UNICEF catalog call 1-800-FOR-KIDS, or write to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Card and Gift Catalog, 333 East 38 Street, New York, NY 10016. For further information about UNICEF programs, access the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's website at http://www.unicefusa.org.

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Produced for Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

Contacts:

Marissa Buckanoff
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
(212) 922-2485

Joy Rich
Pier 1 Imports
(817) 252-8345

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