Nagase-Kenko Corporation Helps to Sponsor Tee-Ball to Schools Program in the Czech Republic


Tokyo -- June 7, 2004

Nagase-Kenko Corporation is proud to announce its participation within the "Tee-Ball to Schools" (TBS) program in the Czech Republic. This initiative involved 90 schools and at least 4500 children. The objective of TBS was to introduce students to a game that is not commonly played in the Czech Republic and which they did not know anything about before becoming involved in the program. The Czech Baseball Association has since received applications from 100 additional schools seeking to to become involved and is planning to supply bats, tees, gloves and balls to facilitate their participation in cooperation with local baseball clubs, who are responsible for helping to implement the program in their respective areas. Participating in the program were about 20 schools in Prague and Central Bohemia, 10 schools in West Bohemia, 10 schools in South Bohemia, 20 schools in North Bohemia and 30 schools in Moravia region. The penetration allowed the Czech Baseball Association to introduce the sport throughout the entire country.

To view a Czech brochure used within the TBS program on "how to play Tee-Ball," click here. (PDF file)

To view a Czech brochure used to promote the TBS program in South Moravia, click here. (Word document)

The Czech Republic TBS program was organized by the Czech Softball Association and as a sponsor, Nagase-Kenko Corportation donated the balls used within this program. TBS coaches and participants noted the balls performed well, were safe and very good for beginners. As a result, Nagase-Kenko Corporation is looking forward to seeing more children using the Kenko ball in the Czech Repulic in the future.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Nagase Kenko Corporation is a global, multi-line sporting goods company. In addition to its AirSafety and Universal Regulation baseballs, NKC markets a wide range of sporting good products and services through its Team Sports and Tennis, Sports Flooring and Gymnastics Equipment and International  Sales and Marketing divisions.

Presently employing a staff of over 250  individuals, NKC maintains four Japanese manufacturing facilities and three regional sales offices in Osaka, Fukuoka and Hokkaido. It also maintains a growing network of agents, distributors and representatives who help to manage its international sales and marketing and promotional activities.

For more information on NKC and Kenko products and services, please visit http://www.kenkobaseball.com or contact the representative indicated below.

Contact:
Alex Rabin
KWR International, Inc.
Tel. +1-212-532-3005
Fax. +1-212-685-2413
E-mail: kenko@kwrintl.com.