Outdoor Cap First Corporate Supplier Gift of Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas Capital Campaign

Rogers, AR (November 2, 2005) - Outdoor Cap has made a $50,000 donation to Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas' capital campaign to help transform healthcare. With their donation, the locally based wholesale trade company becomes the first member of the local supplier community to contribute to the supplier phase of the capital campaign. It is one of the largest gifts Outdoor Cap has ever given to a cause.

"As our mission statement says, through our commitment to quality, service and innovation, we provide affordable headwear for the pride, passion and protection of our customers," said Jerry House, Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration for Outdoor Cap. "We believe that Mercy Health System is committed to offering the same standards – quality, service and innovation – to its patients for their physical and spiritual well-being, and that is why we chose to give to this worthwhile cause."

"Through the years, we have supported many local causes, but none at this level," House added. "The project Mercy has initiated to transform the way healthcare facilities operate is one that we felt was essential in which to participate, especially since the majority of our employees and their families utilize Mercy's services."

The new Mercy medical campus represents an extraordinary effort to transform the way healthcare institutions function. On one hand, it involves core issues such as patient safety and workplace simplification as well as the application of information technology to fundamental processes such as medication management and supply chain management; on the other, it entails replacing a 50-year old building with a new facility that will enable Mercy to continue its mission.

"We are extremely grateful to Outdoor Cap for their generous gift," said Susan Barrett, President and CEO of Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas. "They are an exceptional organization with local roots, and I am very pleased that they are the first to contribute to the supplier phase of the capital campaign."

"Jerry and the entire Outdoor Cap organization are trailblazers within the supplier phase," said Clark Ellison, Executive Director of Development for Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas. "They are the first to give to the supplier phase of the campaign. We are very grateful for their gift and hope that it will spur momentum for this phase."

With the Outdoor Cap gift, the capital campaign still has just over $16 million to raise to reach its goal of $40 million. The supplier phase is one of seven phases of the capital campaign; fundraising efforts are planned to continue through December 2006. With a Fall 2007 anticipated opening, Mercy's 21st century medical campus will be funded by operational gains, investments and reinvestments totaling $105 million as well as money raised through the capital campaign. To learn more about giving opportunities, contact Clark Ellison or Patti B at (479) 936-2934.

Outdoor Cap Company, Inc. was established in 1977 to provide high-quality headwear to multiple markets across the United States. In addition to the corporate headquarters and distribution center in Bentonville, the company has distribution centers in Dallas, Tex., and Ontario, Calif., to serve additional markets. The company's commitment to service and quality has allowed it to become one of the largest and most respected headwear suppliers in the country. For more information, visit www.outdoorcap.com.

Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, a not-for-profit faith-based health system, provides healthcare services to residents in northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. The System includes St. Mary's Hospital, The Gardens at Osage Terrace Assisted Living Facility and Mercy Medical Clinics in 22 locations throughout northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. Mercy is currently constructing a state-of-the-art medical campus just east of Interstate 540 off of New Hope Road in southwest Rogers. When completed in 2007, the campus will include a 350,000-square-foot medical center with 200 beds and a medical office building to accommodate 90 physicians.