Borders(R) Unveils 'Dream Rewards' Contest Series

Borders(R) Unveils 'Dream Rewards' Contest Series

One Lucky Borders Rewards(R) Member Each Quarter Will Win an Incredible 'Dream' Experience; First Winner Will Help Rebuild New Orleans Alongside Harry Connick, Jr. Courtesy of SONY BMG

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Borders today announced a new contest series exclusive to members of its Borders Rewards loyalty program that will give one lucky member each quarter an incredible "dream" experience related to books, music and movies. Borders Rewards, in less than one year, has attracted over 15 million members who enjoy special savings, and with each purchase, earn dollars to be spent later in Borders and Waldenbooks stores nationwide. Now, with "Dream Rewards," the benefits of being a member have been raised to a new level where unique life experiences are an additional reward for the lucky winners.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSLOGO )

"Dream Rewards" kicks off today with the opportunity for one special Borders Rewards member to attend the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival May 4-7 and help rebuild New Orleans alongside Grammy Award-winning musician Harry Connick, Jr., whose new CDs "Oh My Nola" and "Chanson du Vieux Carre" were released Tuesday. An ode to his hometown of New Orleans, Connick's "Oh My Nola" is an impressive collection of classic songs associated with the city and also features four original compositions including "All These People," which was inspired by the suffering Connick witnessed firsthand after Hurricane Katrina. The companion CD, "Chanson du Vieux Carre," is a big band instrumental collection of New Orleans favorites as well as new compositions by Connick. Sony BMG, Marsalis Music, Rounder Records and Harry Connick, Jr. will contribute a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these CDs to the New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village to provide housing for displaced musicians and other families.

To qualify to win the first "Dream Rewards" prize with Harry Connick, Jr., Borders Rewards members are required to submit a "love letter to New Orleans" explaining why they have such deep affection for the city and what makes it so special. Letters, which are not to exceed 150 words, must be submitted online no later than midnight Feb. 28 at www.bordersdreamrewards.com , where full contest details are available. Borders and Sony BMG will select one letter for this first "Dream Rewards" prize and that winner and a guest will travel to New Orleans, attend the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and work alongside Connick in the New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village, a cornerstone of the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH) post-Katrina rebuilding effort, is designed to both construct a community and preserve a culture.. Conceived by New Orleans natives Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis, Musicians' Village will provide a home for both the artists who have defined the city's culture and the sounds that have shaped the musical vernacular of the world. Learn more about this project and charities by going to www.habitat-nola.org and www.NOLAmusiciansvillage.org.

"Borders Rewards just got even better for our members with the addition of 'Dream Rewards,'" said Borders Group Chief Marketing Officer Michael Tam. "The opportunity to win incredible experiences related to books, music and movies is something we know Borders Rewards members will be excited about because they are passionate about books, music and movies and share with us a sense of discovery that seeks out unique life experiences-the kind we are so pleased to offer along with terrific partners like Sony BMG, through this new contest series."

It's free and easy to join Borders Rewards to become eligible for special discounts, savings rewards and now the "Dream Rewards" contest series. Just visit your local Borders or Waldenbooks store to pick up a card-the program is free-and then go online at www.bordersrewards.com to register your card and to learn more about Borders Rewards. To locate the nearest Borders or Waldenbooks store, visit www.bordersstores.com or call 800-443-7359.

About Borders, Inc.

Borders is a subsidiary of Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE:BGP) a $4 billion retailer of books, music, movies and stationery items that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BGP. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Borders Group, through its subsidiaries, operates more than 1,300 Borders and Waldenbooks stores and employs more than 34,000 people worldwide who serve more than 30 million customers each year. More information on the company is available at www.bordersgroupinc.com.

About New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village, Inc.

The New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village in the Upper Ninth Ward, conceived by Connick and Marsalis in partnership with the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, will consist of single-family homes for musicians and other qualifying homeowner families as well as elder-friendly duplexes. Its centerpiece will be the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, a performance, instruction and recording complex. As of January 2007, about forty homes have been completed and architectural designs for the Center have been finalized. In addition, NOAHH hopes to build an additional 250 homes in the neighborhood surrounding the Musicians' Village as well as a projected 1000 other homes in neighborhoods around New Orleans. www.habitat-nola.org and www.NOLAmusiciansvillage.org.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSLOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Borders, Inc.

CONTACT: Ann Binkley of Borders Group, Inc., +1-734-477-1739, or
abinkley@bordersgroupinc.com

Web site: http://www.bordersgroupinc.com/
http:/// www.bordersstores.com
http://www.bordersdreamrewards.com/
http:/// www.bordersrewards.com
http://www.habitat-nola.org/
http://www.nolamusiciansvillage.org/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/106169.html

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