The American Express Root For Our City Challenge is part of the company's commitment to community improvement and the environment. Cardmembers may vote for their city with each purchase at a participating merchant in the eight cities, which include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. At the conclusion of the American Express Root For Our City Challenge on October 31, 2008, the city with the most votes from purchases by Cardmembers at participating merchants will receive the largest share of the $1 million grant.

"Trees make a huge difference in our cities. They help to offset carbon emissions, beautify an area and create a positive impact on the local economy," said Kathy King, vice president of marketplace development, American Express Merchant Services. "Our goal with the Root For Our City Challenge is to engage people across the nation in a collaborative effort to help green the urban settings in which they live and work."

The participating cities, which each have a highly populated dense urban landscape, have paired with a local organization with an environmental mission that will help implement the planting projects and further engage community involvement.

The American Express Root For Our City Challenge runs from now through October 31, 2008, with the city with the most votes announced in mid November 2008. Each of the eight participating cities will receive $100,000 for their participation and tree planting projects, with the city with the most votes receiving $300,000. Project plans range from replacing storm-damaged and aging trees, to the greening of lower income housing campuses, including the planting of hundreds of native trees that would significantly increase the tree canopy in urban areas.

More information about the American Express Root For Our City Challenge and a list of participating merchants can be found at http://www.rootforourcity.com.

About American Express
Giving back is a core value and being a "good citizen" is a hallmark of American Express. Often credited as the first company to launch a cause-related marketing campaign via a program benefiting the Statue of Liberty in 1983, American Express has continued to roll out successful initiatives around the world that enhance communities and bring support to important causes.

Merchant Services is the merchant network of American Express, which acquires and maintains relationships with millions of merchants around the globe which welcome American Express-branded Cards. American Express Company is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

Terms and Conditions
Cardmembers may participate in the American Express Root For Our City Challenge by simply paying with any American Express® Card when you see the tree icon for this Challenge displayed at participating merchants in each of the eight participating cities to vote for that city from September 22 – October 31, 2008. The city with the most votes will receive the most funding for trees. Terms and conditions apply. To learn more, visit http://www.rootforourcity.com.

CITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS:

Atlanta: Trees Atlanta

Boston: Boston's Urban Forest Coalition; City of Boston

Chicago: Department of Environment, City of Chicago

Los Angeles: Million Trees Los Angeles

Miami: City of Miami, Office of Sustainable Initiatives

New York City: MillionTreesNYC; New York Restoration Project

San Francisco: San Francisco Department of Public Works; San Francisco Bureau of Forestry

Washington DC: Casey Trees