CIARA HELPS HAMPTONS BENEFIT TO DELIVER $300,000 IN GOODIES TO THE VH1 SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION

East Hampton N.Y. (July 31, 2006) - Pop singer Ciara delivered the goodies this weekend with a high-energy performance at the Fourth Annual VH1 Save The Music Benefit that raised more than $500,000 for public school music programs.

The event, held Friday evening in East Hampton, New York, attracted a large crowd of fans that braved a brief summer rainstorm that blew over making room for the evening's fun.

"This was the biggest and most successful benefit yet," said Morris L. Reid, who along with his wife Jaci, hosted the soirée - complete with an arena-like stage, lights and hospitality tents - in the backyard of their home.

Actress Nicolette Sheridan, hip hop mogul Russell Simmons, producer Rodney Jerkins, director Brad Ratner, designer Donna Karan, media executive Gayle King and restaurateur B Smith were among the famous names in attendance. "We are ecstatic that so many people were so generous with their time and money," Reid said

The event, sponsored by Westin Rinehart and Crest Whitestrips, is a major fundraiser for the VH1 Foundation. The multi-platinum selling Ciara was the headliner for the event that featured her high-energy dancing and singing several of her hit songs including "1, 2 Step", "Oh" and "Get Up."

The evening's entertainment will also include singer/songwriter Lyfe Jennings, whose set was starkly soulful and including his crooning his smash hit "Must Be Nice" from his platinum debut album "Lyfe 268-192".

The event also featured an online auction hosted by Crest hitestrips with designer handbags, shoes, jewelry, luxury cars, amazing getaways

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring music education programs that have been cut due to budget reductions or to save programs at risk of elimination due to lack of instruments. Since 1997, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation has provided more than $30 million worth of new musical instruments to more than 1,200 schools in 80 communities, affecting the lives of more than 700,000 public school children

In addition to Crest Whitestrips, other major sponsors for this year's event include Anheuser-Busch, Elle, jetBlue Airways, Grey Goose, Mercedes-Benz and Sephora. Year-round supporters of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation include Curve Fragrances, Kozy Shack and Nikon.

For more information, or pictures of the event, please contact Alonza Robertson at 202.466.1933 or Alonza@westinrinehart.com.