NEWTON, Iowa - As America nears the end of a drought-plagued year, Mother Earth continues to guard over the nation's precious water and energy supplies.

At the 76th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade(TM), Mother Earth will ride atop a float sponsored by Maytag Appliances, marking the fifth anniversary of the high-efficiency Maytag(R) Neptune(R) Washer, which uses up to 40 percent less water and 60 percent less energy than a conventional clothes washer.*

Twenty-one-year-old singing phenomenon Josh Groban will be riding Maytag's Mother Earth Float at this year's parade. Groban, dubbed "The New Boy Wonder Voice" by The New York Times, has sold close to two million copies of his debut CD on Warner Bros. Records. He appeared earlier this year with Charlotte Church at the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games before a worldwide TV audience of one billion people.

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The Maytag (NYSE:MYG) float is designed to celebrate the bounty of the earth and Maytag's commitment to water and energy conservation. The float features a 28-foot-long, elegant swan-like bird. Nestled between its wings is a 16-foot-high sculpture of Mother Earth, who holds an urn of flowing water -- the essence of life.

"As an innovator, Maytag has historically developed appliances that save water and energy," says Bill Beer, president, Maytag Appliances. "Consumers have come to depend on Maytag for products that stand not only for conservation, but performance and dependability as well."

This year also marks the 35th anniversary of the Maytag Ol' Lonely(R) Repairman, the symbol of dependability and the longest-running real-life advertising character in history. Ol' Lonely made his first appearance in a Maytag commercial that debuted on the "Today" show in 1967.

Over the years, Maytag products have kept pace with the changing needs of consumers, and the Repairman character has evolved with them. Maytag introduced the Apprentice in 2001 as part of its ongoing strategy to build upon its dependability heritage. Today, Ol' Lonely continues to wait for the phone to ring, while his Apprentice uses his spare time to pursue and understand Maytag's innovations.

About Maytag

For the better part of a century, Maytag brand appliances have been synonymous with dependability and quality. Today, Maytag remains one of America's most trusted appliance manufacturers. Based in Newton, Iowa, Maytag Appliances offers a full line of high performance appliances, including the Gemini(R) double-oven range, Neptune(R) and Atlantis(TM) washers and dryers, Bottom Freezer refrigerator and Jetclean(R) II, the world's first three-rack dishwasher. For more information on any Maytag appliance, or to purchase an appliance online, visit www.maytag.com .

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