ELLISON PARTNERS WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO PROMOTE EDUCATION THROUGH EMPLOYMENT

Ellison and Vocational Visions Work Together to Create Opportunities for Adults with Disabilities

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (February 8, 2006) – Ellison, the world's leading manufacturer of hand-operated die-cutting equipment, recently teamed with Vocational Visions, a non-profit organization providing a wide range of life-learning and vocational opportunities to men and women with developmental disabilities. Ellison and Vocational Visions are working together to offer adults with disabilities employment opportunities through a special work program in which these individuals assemble Dewey Doo-it classroom instructional kits for Ellison.

Hundreds of Dewey Doo-it Teacher’s Kits are being put together on site at Vocational Visions in Mission Viejo, Califonia, which are offered through the Ellison Educator Catalog and Ellison.com. The kits give teachers lesson plans and ideas to incorporate how children can learn about selflessness, kindness and compassion through the fictional character “Dewey Doo-it.” Additionally, these Teacher's Kits help children understand difficult challenges such as physical disabilities, hunger and poverty housing. Through the Dewey Doo-it Teacher’s Kits, Ellison is motivating K-3 students to become real “doers” in both the classroom and the community.

“It is rewarding for Ellison to work with the Vocational Visions program to provide training that enables individuals with disabilities the opportunities to experience not only education and employment, but confidence and independence as well,” said Lisa Corcoran, CEO of Ellison. “Through this effort, we are truly putting the lessons of the Dewey Doo-it series into action.”

For more than 30 years, Vocational Visions has assisted hundreds of men and women with developmental disabilities to reach their dreams through the help of eight comprehensive programs, including the Work Activity Program that facilitated the unique partnership between Ellison and Vocational Visions. Approximately 73% of adults with developmental disabilities in south Orange County, California, utilize Vocational Visions programs on a daily basis.

Ellison is the exclusive distributor of the specially designed Teacher's Kits for the award-winning "Dewey Doo-it" series of children's books and CDs. Ellison has been actively involved in education for nearly 30 years and manufactures and distributes innovative instructional products and designs to schools nationwide.

About the Ellison Brand
Since the 1970s, Ellison® die-cutting systems have saved crafters and educators alike countless hours of time and relieved them from aching hands. The creative ingenuity of LaDorna and Bob Eichenberg has evolved from the Original Ellison LetterMachine®, the first-ever hand-operated die-cutting machine to the current Ellison product line, which includes the Prestige™ Pro, Prestige™ SpaceSaver™, Prestige™ Select and AllStar™ die-cutting machines. Today, Ellison products are found in over 80 percent of schools nationwide and are available for consumer use in scrapbook, stationery and craft stores around the world. More information can be found at Ellison.com.

About Ellison Corporate
Since 1977, Ellison has been the leader in die-cutting innovation and product development. Ellison manufactures and distributes the Prestige™ and AllStar™ product lines. Ellison is also the manufacturer, distributor and retailer of ellison design™ and Sizzix® consumer die-cutting equipment and ancillary products. Ellison empowers people to express their personal and professional creativity using its innovative products and is committed to continuing this tradition for generations to come. More information can be found at Corp.ellison.com.