NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1999--The Child Care Action Campaign (CCAC) on Wednesday night will present its 1999 Caring Corporation Award to Roger Brown, CEO, and Linda Mason, Chairman, of Bright Horizons Family Solutions (NASDAQ: BFAM). CCAC will honor the husband and wife team at its annual fundraising gala and auction, which is expected to bring in nearly half a million dollars to support CCAC's national public outreach, education, and advocacy efforts for more and better child care.

Gala Chairs, William H. Donaldson, cofounder and senior advisor of Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette, and Sheila Wellington, President of Catalyst, will be on hand as the award is presented to the couple who cofounded what is now the nation's leading provider of employer-sponsored child care, early education and work/life consulting services. Mason and Brown were selected for the honor because of their pioneering efforts in developing workplace services to respond to the new dynamics of families and their employers.

CCAC President Faith Wohl praised the couple, saying, "We are very proud to honor Roger Brown and Linda Mason, who have shown by example that good quality child care and early education can improve the lives of children and parents nationwide. By elevating the standards of care, Bright Horizons Family Solutions has positioned itself as a leader in the child care field. Their innovations have raised the bar of quality and brought the issue of child care to the forefront for many businesses."

"We are honored to receive this recognition from the Child Care Action Campaign," said Brown. "Bringing child care to the workplace has done more than accommodate modern day work schedules. It also reflects the deep understanding many companies have about both the societal and corporate value that can come from investing in the lives of young children and families, and that is truly gratifying."

Mason added that high quality child care is an essential part of a productive workplace, "When you can help children thrive and develop to their full potential in a high quality child care setting, you also give parents the security and assurance they need to be their most productive in the workplace. Work-site care also offers the most dynamic and diverse learning atmosphere available to young children. It is gratifying to know that the hundreds of individuals and corporations supporting CCAC recognize that and are investing in our youngest citizens."

Through their efforts to provide high quality child care at work sites through the nation, Brown and Mason have helped increase employee satisfaction and performance at hundreds of companies. Research at just one of the company's Family Centers showed the following:

-- The turnover rate among employees using the center was one-third

     that of other employees. The on-site child care outranked both
     salary and job security in an employee's decision to stay with
     the company.

--   Parents using the center had about half the rate of absenteeism
     as compared with parents using other child care arrangements.

--   Those using the Family Center had higher performance ratings than
     others in the company and had fewer than half as many
     distractions at work due to child care.

     "Linda Mason and Roger Brown have achieved professional success,

not only for themselves, but also for thousands of working parents across the country, through their dedication to the education and care of children. But even more impressive is their deep personal commitment to improve the lives of children in need in their own community and around the globe. I applaud the Child Care Action Campaign for recognizing Linda and Roger for all their work," said Yale University President Richard Levin.

Prior to founding Bright Horizons in 1986, Brown and Mason spent several years managing large-scale relief operations in Sudan and along the Thailand border. That experience has permeated the culture at Bright Horizons where Brown and Mason have launched several initiatives to help children in need. Two recent programs, The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children and Bright S.P.A.C.E.S will create safe and enriching places for children in need in communities where Bright Horizons does business. In addition, they are the founders of the award-winning Horizons Initiative, which has been serving homeless children and their families in the Greater Boston area for ten years.

Bright Horizons operates 291 Family Centers for more than 220 companies in 34 states and the District of Columbia. They count more than 70 of the Fortune 500 corporations among their clients, including Chase Manhattan Bank, Bristol-Myers Squibb, SC Johnson, Time Warner, IBM, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., and GE Capital Services.

Child Care Action Campaign is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families, improving education, and advancing the well-being of children through advocacy for safe, affordable, good quality child care for all American families.