Local Columbus Woman to Appear on MONTEL for Making a Difference in the Community

Local Columbus Woman to Appear on MONTEL for Making a Difference in the Community

National Specialty Apparel Retailer Honors Columbus' TyKiah Wright with a $20,000 Charitable Grant on MONTEL Airing February 22nd

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Charming Shoppes, Inc., a leading multi-channel specialty apparel retailer and parent company of Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines Plus Sizes, and Petite Sophisticate, is proud to honor TyKiah Wright of Columbus, Ohio for her efforts in serving her community. Ms. Wright is one of five finalists who are eligible to receive a $20,000 charitable grant to be used towards her organization, WrightChoice, Inc., from Charming Shoppes' Voices. One voice can lead to a chorus for change.(R) Campaign. Ms. Wright will also receive a "Dream Come True" vacation for four to Walt Disney World(R) Resort during the Year of a Million Dreams celebration. Finalists will be featured on MONTEL on Friday, February 22nd, 2008 during the one-hour Voices Winner's Finale.

"I was in total shock when I first found out I was one of the finalists selected," said Wright. "The recognition by Charming Shoppes' Voices Campaign is truly amazing, inspiring and humbling, especially because there were thousands of highly competitive nominees."

Voices is an annual campaign sponsored by Charming Shoppes that honors women across America for their passion, leadership and achievements as everyday women who raise their voice to create positive change. Wright was selected from thousands of women from across the country who were nominated with essays describing the difference they have made in their communities. This year's nominations recognized women championing causes from natural disaster relief and medical research, to working with seniors and disabled persons.

TyKiah Wright was diagnosed with Muscular Neuropathy as a child and has since been bound to a wheelchair. After completing her college degree and obtaining her MBA, Wright encountered obstacles in getting positions she felt she deserved. As she was confronted with these obstacles, Wright decided to dedicate herself to the advancement of other women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities through the establishment of WrightChoice, Inc., the leading non-profit recruitment and diversity inclusion organization providing social and economic empowerment for minority students as well as students with disabilities. For more information about WrightChoice, Inc., visit www.wrightchoice.org, where the motto is "building a bridge between resource and opportunity." The program recently celebrated five years of giving back to the community.

"We are honored to recognize women such as TyKiah Wright, who demonstrate their abilities and capacity to give back to their communities for the better," says Dorrit Bern, CEO of Charming Shoppes, Inc. "Ms. Wright serves as an inspiration to women across the country by showing them that one voice can make a difference."

Columbus viewers can tune in to MONTEL on NBC 4, on February 22nd at 2pm to watch the Voices Winner's Finale.

Charming Shoppes, Inc. is a leading multi-channel specialty apparel retailer.

Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug, Catherines Plus Sizes, and Petite Sophisticate,

provide plus-size and petite women with the latest in apparel, accessories,

shoes and intimate apparel. For more information about Voices, visit

www.charmingshoppes.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Charming Shoppes, Inc.

CONTACT: Kim Hong, Publicist, +1-212-279-2183

Web site:

http://www.charmingshoppes.com/
http://www.wrightchoice.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Please contact Kim Hong at kim.hong@charming.com for Hi-Res photo of TyKiah Wright

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