PORTLAND, OR – In the final week of fundraising to send Portland Public School sixth graders to Outdoor School this Spring, Columbia Sportswear Company® (Nasdaq: COLM), maker of high quality outdoor apparel and footwear, will match any donations made to the Friends of Outdoor School in the next seven days, up to $180,000. This is half of the amount needed to revive the 37 year-old program. Columbia Sportswear will facilitate donations from the general public at its three Portland area stores.

“As an outdoor Company, and as citizens of Portland, Columbia felt it was important to help keep the Outdoor School program in place,” said Tim Boyle, CEO and President of Columbia Sportswear. “We hope others will accept the challenge we’ve made to keep this key school program viable.”

The Save Outdoor School Coalition has through February 17, 2003 to raise the additional $360,000 needed to send Portland Public School sixth graders to a full week of Outdoor School this Spring. Half of the sixth graders in the school district attended Outdoor School in the Fall, the other half will miss the opportunity to learn about the environment first-hand if the program is not funded.

Columbia’s three Portland area retail stores will facilitate donations to the Friends of Outdoor School through February 17,2003. Where:
· Portland Flagship store: 911 SW Broadway, Portland
· Historic Old Sellwood Outlet: 1323 SE Tacoma Street, Sellwood
· Oswego Towne Square Outlet: 3 Monroe Parkway, Suite H, Lake Oswego

For more information on the Outdoor School campaign, please contact:

Friends of Outdoor School
c/o MESD Foundation
PO Box 301039
Portland, OR 97294-9039
503-257-1600 phone, 503-257-1592 fax
Or visit www.passonthememory.org.

Founded in 1938 in Portland, Ore., Columbia Sportswear Company® is a global leader in the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel and footwear. As one of the largest outerwear brands in the world and the leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the Company has developed an international reputation by expanding its product line, emphasizing quality, performance, functionality and value. To learn more about Columbia Sportswear, please visit the Company's Web site at www.columbia.com.

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