STAMFORD, Conn., March 27, 2001 --- The Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County, Connecticut, has announced that Michael J. Critelli, Chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI), will be honored with the 2001 Heart of Gold Society Award. Mr. Critelli is being recognized for his outstanding leadership in promoting employee volunteerism. He will receive the prestigious award at the seventh annual Heart of Gold Society Award Dinner on April 4, 6:30 p.m., at the Sheraton Stamford Hotel. A charter goal of the Heart of Gold Society is to promote successful partnerships between businesses and nonprofits to build strong communities and strong businesses. "The Volunteer Center established the Heart of Gold Society in 1995 to encourage CEOs of today and tomorrow to build volunteerism into their strategic business plans. It is an honorary society that recognizes the importance of corporate leadership in building healthy communities through volunteerism. The society's purpose is to remind the community of the crucial contributions of corporate volunteer leadership. Mike Critelli's legacy of active community involvement and commitment to volunteerism has earned him well-deserved respect," said John P. Archer, founder of the Heart of Gold Society and past president of The Volunteer Center. William J. Rowe, retired Chairman, Publisher and President of The Advocate and Greenwich Time and last year's recipient of the Heart of Gold Society Award, will present the award to Mr. Critelli. The Co-Chairs of the 2001 Heart of Gold Society are George B. Harvey, retired chairman and CEO of Pitney Bowes and the first recipient of the Heart of Gold Society Award in 1995, and Paul A. Allaire, Chairman of the Board of Xerox Corporation and the 1999 recipient of the Award. Other award recipients have been Gary C. Wendt, retired chairman and CEO of GE Capital (1996); J. Michael Cook, retired chairman and CEO of Deloitte & Touche LLP (1997); and Joseph L. Dionne, retired chairman and president of The McGraw-Hill Companies (1998).