Nextel and SunTrust Announce Sponsorship of a Fundraising Event in Association With NASCAR and the Country Music Foundation

Nextel and SunTrust Announce Sponsorship of a Fundraising Event in Association With NASCAR and the Country Music Foundation

ATLANTA, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Nextel Communications and SunTrust Banks, Inc. today announced their sponsorship and preliminary plans for a two-day premiere fundraising event to be held in Nashville, Tennessee on January 13th and 14th, 2006, to benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp and The Country Music Hall of Fame(R) charities.

The event, named "Nextel Sound and Speed, a Motorsports and Music Celebration Presented by SunTrust," will feature some of NASCAR and country music's top stars -- showcasing their talents and the unveiling of some of the new 2006 racing car paint schemes for the new racing season.

Brian Williams, senior vice president and head of SunTrust Music and Motorsports Banking, said, "As the official Bank of NASCAR and a very active participant in providing financial services to the music industry, we understand that motorsports and country music are lifestyles for their fans. Sponsoring a high profile event such as this, that makes the stars of racing and music even more accessible to their fans, is one of many ways we can build upon our relationships with both of these important industries while supporting such worthy causes."

Frank Franzese, vice president of Direct Distribution at Nextel Communications said, "Since becoming the Series sponsor of NASCAR's top division, Nextel has been a strong supporter of the Victory Junction Gang. Supporting Sound and Speed is a natural extension of our relationship with the Pettys. Reaching out to the country music industry also makes sense when you consider the ties that NASCAR and country music have. We are proud to partner with SunTrust to help raise awareness and money for these great causes."

Originally the idea of Don Light, a well-known Nashville-based artist manager, Sound and Speed will also feature a VIP charity auction and benefit concert by a major talent to be announced at a later date.

The Victory Junction Gang Camp, started by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their deceased son Adam, caters to children with chronic or life- threatening illness. Victory Junction is a medically-advanced facility where the lives of children and their families are fueled with memories of fun, friendship and success. The camp is located in Randleman, North Carolina, approximately 15 minutes outside of Greensboro.

The Country Music Hall of Fame(R) and Museum is located in Nashville and is operated by the non-profit, educational Country Music Foundation (CMF). The mission of the CMF is to identify and preserve the evolving history and traditions of country music and to educate its audiences. Functioning as a local history museum and as an international arts organization, the CMF serves visiting and non-visiting audiences including fans, students, scholars, members of the music industry, and the general public -- in the Nashville area, the nation, and the world.

Serving as honorary chairman for this special event are Kyle Petty and Vince Gill. "Sound and Speed is a unique opportunity for us to combine two distinct genres which share a significant crossover in our fan bases. It's the best of both worlds with the talents of NASCAR and country music in the same location at the same time," Mr. Gill stated. Mr. Petty said, "Our fans will love the opportunity to meet the drivers, interact with the artists and support charities which are so vital to the communities they serve."

Nextel Communications, a FORTUNE 200 company based in Reston, Virginia is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Today 95 percent of FORTUNE 500(R) companies are Nextel customers. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 297 of the top 300 U.S. markets where approximately 262 million people live or work.

SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the nation's largest commercial banking organizations. As of March 31, 2005, SunTrust had total assets of $164.8 billion and total deposits of $107.5 billion. The company operates an extensive distribution network primarily in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and the District of Columbia, and also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the company provides credit cards, mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage and capital markets services. SunTrust's Internet address is www.suntrust.com .

Source: SunTrust Banks, Inc.

CONTACT: Allison Bennett of SunTrust Banks, Inc., +1-404-724-3485

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

------- Profile: Ent