The Hershey Company and Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell Team With Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King to Raise Money for Fight Against HIV/AIDS

The Hershey Company and Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell Team With Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King to Raise Money for Fight Against HIV/AIDS

Top Tennis Stars Come to Hershey, Pa., as Part of the Advanta World TeamTennis Smash Hits Charity Tennis Event

HERSHEY, Pa., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) and Governor Edward G. Rendell teamed up today with Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King to bring pro tennis to Hershey, Pa. to raise money in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Advanta's Smash Hits, set for GIANT Center on November 7, 2005, will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and The Greater Harrisburg AIDS Fund, a Community Partnership of the National AIDS Fund.

"We are thrilled to partner with Sir Elton John, Billie Jean King and World TeamTennis to support the fight against HIV/AIDS in Pennsylvania by bringing Smash Hits to Hershey," said Tom Hernquist, Senior Vice President, President U.S. Confectionery, The Hershey Company. "The Hershey Company has a proud heritage of contributing to the community, and Smash Hits provides an excellent opportunity to make a difference to those living with HIV/AIDS. This special event will help expand prevention efforts and care services in central Pennsylvania."

John and King will play in a celebrity doubles match to open the event. The evening will feature five sets of tennis, using the World TeamTennis (WTT) format. Several of the top tennis players in the world, including Anna Kournikova and Andy Roddick, will compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Players will form two teams, with one team captained by John and the other by King.

Now in its 13th year, Smash Hits has raised more than $7 million to help in the fight against HIV and AIDS around the globe.

For additional information, please visit the Elton John AIDS Foundation at http://www.ejaf.org/ and World TeamTennis at http://www.wtt.com/. For tickets, please contact GIANT Center box office at 717-534-3911.

About Smash Hits

Established in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation is an international non-profit organization funding prevention education and direct patient care services for men, women and children living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS. From 1992 to 2004, the Foundation has funded more than 2,417 grants in North America. To date, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has distributed over $50 million to fund HIV/AIDS programs around the world. Since its inception, Smash Hits has raised more than $5 million for the Foundation.

Players who have played the event in past years include Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, Anna Kournikova, Lindsay Davenport, Martina Navratilova and Jimmy Connors.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) is a leading snack food company and the largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products. With revenues of over $4 billion and more than 13,000 employees worldwide, The Hershey Company markets such well-known brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Kit Kat, Almond Joy, Mounds, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Ice Breakers, and Mauna Loa, as well as innovative new products such as Take 5 candy bar and Hershey's cookies. In addition to its traditional confectionery products, Hershey offers a range of products specifically developed to address the nutritional interests of today's health- conscious consumer. These products include sugar-free Hershey's, Reese's and York candies, as well as Hershey's SmartZone bars for people seeking balanced nutrition. It also markets Hershey's cocoa, Hershey's syrup and other branded baking ingredients, toppings and beverages. Visit us at http://www.hersheynewsroom.com/.

Source: The Hershey Company

CONTACT: Sue Karli of The Hershey Company, +1-717-534-7641

Web site: http://www.ejaf.org/

Web site: http://www.wtt.com/

Web site: http://www.hersheynewsroom.com/
http://www.hersheys.com/

-------
Profile: intent