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A-1 First Class, Hofstra, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of LI Team Up

December 2007, New York, NY . . . "A-1 First Class – Viking Moving & Storage makes giving to charity a snap," said Matt Schwartzberg, President of A-1 First Class – Viking Moving & Storage, Inc. "We're participating in Hofstra Athletics's Winter Toy and Clothing Drive, on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters Long Island, at the January 5th Hofstra Men’s Basketball game."

A-1 First Class – Viking will have a truck collecting clothes for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Long Island at the David Mack Arena the entire week preceding the game and on game day, Saturday, January 5th 2008. The game, Hofstra vs. James Madison University, starts at 4 p.m.

"It's easy. Bring the clothes you've been meaning to give away but didn't have time to deal with," Mr. Schwartzberg—an alumnus of Hofstra—said. "We’ll take care of everything and get the donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters Long Island."

Michael Laby, CEO of A-1 First Class, said, "We're really looking forward to this game and our clothing drive. It's a terrific way to combine charity and fun for the whole family. And, for those who cannot make the game, our truck will be there for a week, and the bins for toys and clothing will be outside the Mack Sports Complex throughout the month of December."

Additionally, Mr. Schwartzberg said, "as part of our ongoing partnership with BBBSLI, we've got a link to BBBSLI on our website, www.a1firstclass.com, and an email address for our charity drive, donate@a1firstclass.com."

For tickets or for information about the game and the Winter Toy and Clothing Drive, please call the Hofstra Athletic Ticket Office at (516) HOF-TIXX or visit online at Hofstra.edu/Athletics. For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters Long Island, please visit their website at www.bbbsli.org.

With local, national and international capabilities, A-1 First Class – Viking Moving & Storage provides a full suite of moving and storage services. As an authorized Interstate Agent for Atlas Van Lines, the company is part of a network of the best long-distance movers across the nation and around the globe. Storage services include full-service warehousing; secure, climate-controlled self-storage; and advanced-technology document management, automation, tracking, and retrieval at a secure, state-of-the-art facility. A-1 First Class is a fourth-generation family business with offices and warehouses in Brooklyn, NY, Lynbrook, NY and Oceanside, NY, and is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau, American Moving and Storage Association and Long Island Moving & Storage Association.

For more information on A-1 First Class – Viking Moving & Storage, Inc., or its charitable activities, please visit www.A1FirstClass.com or contact Katerina Caterisano, Network Design and Communications, phone 212-431-4675; email Kat@networknyc.com.

A-1 First Class Moves Ahead with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island

March 2007, New York, NY . . . "When's the best time to donate clothes to charity?" asked Matt Schwartzberg, President of A-1 First Class – Viking Moving & Storage, Inc. "People always want to give, but they never have time to go through their things and make those decisions."

Michael Laby, CEO of A-1 First Class, said, "We realized the best time for people to easily sort through their belongings and figure out what they want to donate is when they have to do it anyway—when they're moving."

"We decided to make it even easier," Mr. Schwartzberg continued. "I learned about the program from a fellow Hofstra University alum, Mark Cox, who is the new Chief Development Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island (BBBSLI). We teamed up and created a program to get tax-deductible donations from our customers directly to the charity. As a leading relocation provider, A-1 First Class is in a great position to increase the amount of clothing this critical program collects."

Asked why A-1 First Class chose BBBSLI, Mr. Schwartzberg replied, "Big Brothers Big Sisters makes it easier for today's kids by giving them a caring adult as a mentor and a friend. 52% of the kids in the program are less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, and they're all more likely to get along with their families and peers. It gives them a better start, which is what we aim to do at A-1 First Class as well. Life is stressful enough, whether you're moving or just trying get ahead in life. We all help each other out."

Customers can have items picked up on move day by A-1 First Class, or they can contact BBBSLI for pick ups before they move. When the customer is ready, the A-1 First Class team collects the donations, gives the customer their tax receipt, and brings the items to an A-1 First Class warehouse where they are kept safe until they are delivered to the BBBSLI Donation Center.

"We've set up a link on our website to BBBSLI, and an email address, donate@a1firstclass.com, to help people arrange their pick up dates," Mr. Schwartzberg said, "and we have special promotions for commercial clients to get their employees involved. We're starting with clothing, but we also welcome other items, including furniture, bric-a-brac, and corporate donations."

A-1 First Class's Matt Schwartzberg Is Model Citizen

New York, NY . . . On March 17, 2007, Matt Schwartzberg, President of A-1 First Class – Viking Moving & Storage, Inc., had a brief career as a model. Mr. Schwartzberg joined his fellow CEOs, artist Carmen Einfinger, and family members at the Broadway Gallery. Ms. Einfinger's show "CEO's" benefited Embrace diverse Disabilities (EdD), an organization dedicated to education for special needs children.

Ms. Einfinger exhibited her wearable art, portraits in strong blocks of primary colors painted on clothing. Learning that Ms. Einfinger was showing her work to benefit EdD, Mr. Schwartzberg immediately volunteered to be one of the model CEOs, wearing the artist's work.

Mr. Schwartzberg has two young children and another expected soon. "When you become a parent," he said, "schools are one of the first things you worry about—teachers, curriculum, the other students. But what if your child has a disability that prevents them from succeeding in a traditional school setting? You would need a resource like EdD to help you and your child to get the education needed to become a good citizen."

Michael Laby, CEO of A-1 First Class, said, "We support Matt in his efforts to help kids. At A-1 First Class, we realize that children are our future, and we are committed to supporting families and communities."

Pamela-Leslie Singh Hux, EdD founder and director, said, "I am very grateful for Mr. Schwartzberg's support. We forget that even powerful CEOs are fathers too, and they want to help disabled children, their families, and communities. I love Ms. Einfinger's art, it's so vigorous and bright. I think her work, like EdD, embraces the world of possibilities and capabilities, rather than disabilities. I was thrilled that so many people wanted to help."

"I feel connected with people who face challenges," Ms. Einfinger said. "I've been inspired in this work by my friendship with my neighbor who suffers from bipolar disorder. She was only 12 when I met her, and I saw how isolated she was. I'm also interested in how children are both dynamic and fragile. They need a lot of help and too often, they don't get it. I think we all suffer for this—we lose them as citizens. So it's good for me on many levels to help EdD. And Mr. Schwartzberg is a handsome man—he and the other CEOs all looked great in the clothes."

A-1 First Class and New York Jets Team Up to Help Needy

January 2007, New York City…A-1 First Class VicePresident and Director of Sales & Marketing Matt Schwartzberg announced this past week that the Brooklyn-based moving and storage company A-1 First Class – Viking Moving & Storage teamed up with the New York Jets recently for their winter season’s three charity drives. According to Mr. Schwartzberg, A-1 First Class has been responsible for relocation activities for the New York Jets for five years and has lent an enthusiastic helping hand with many of the sports team’s charitable activities throughout their association.

On December 31, 2006, A-1 First Class assisted the New York Jets in the 11th annual Jersey Cares Coat Drive at The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, NJ. Fans were encouraged to bring new or gently used coats to the Jets vs. Oakland Raiders game. The goal for the 2006 event was to collect 20,000 gently used winter coats, and then distribute them to at-risk men, women, children and infants in New Jersey homeless shelters, community organizations, churches, and agencies serving seniors.

Several weeks prior to this, A-1 First Class collaborated with the New York Jets and the U.S. Marine Reserve Corps in collecting new, unwrapped toys for the annual Toys for Tots drive. The drive was held on Sunday, December 10, at The Meadowlands, for the Jets’ game vs. the Buffalo Bills. Toys donated by fans at the game were collected at all gates and then distributed as Christmas gifts to needy children throughout New Jersey.

The first of the 2006 Winter Season’s charity drives spearheaded by the New York Jets, with assistance from A-1 First Class, was the Interfaith Nutrition Network’s annual food drive. Held on November 19, 2006, at The Meadowlands, before the game vs. Chicago, fans were encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for the Interfaith Nutrition Network, a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that addresses the issues of hunger and homelessness by providing food, shelter, long-term housing and supportive services in a dignified and respectful manner.

Mr. Schwartzberg commented, "We’re happy to be able to work with the New York Jets in improving conditions for those in need throughout the region. As a family-owned and run business, A-1 First Class understands the power of getting involved with charity drives like these. We’re proud to be able to share our resources in bringing comfort to those in need."

A-1 First Class Plays Essential Role in Opening of the NY Mets' 2006 Season

April 2006, New York City... For the 20th consecutive year, A-1 First Class has completed the relocation of equipment and personal property from the Mets' spring training complex in Port St Lucie to Shea Stadium in time for opening day. Since 1986, A-1 First Class has been entrusted with delivering equipment and baseball items for the spring training session beginning in February and back to Shea Stadium in April.

During the baseball season A-1 First Class picks up equipment at New York metro area airports after the team's road trips and also shuttles it to the airport before trips.

Matt Schwartzberg, Vice President of A-1 First Class, commented about their longtime association with the Mets, "We enjoy being part of the team. The fact is, without us, they couldn't play the games--we have all the gloves and bats."

A-1 First Class Vice President Matt Schwartzberg Honored as LI Business Leader

February 2006, New York City... Matt Schwartzberg, Vice President and Director of Sales & Marketing of A-1 First Class - Viking Moving & Storage, was recently honored by Long Island Business News as one of this year's "40 under 40" business leaders. At a reception held at Crest Hollow County Club acknowledging this year's honorees, George Ross, Executive VP of the Trump Organization and co-star of "The Apprentice," gave the keynote address.

Long Island Business News honors 40 individuals under the age of 40 for their commitment to business and the community on an annual basis. Matt has been instrumental in the growth of A-1 First Class and their Atlas Van Lines relationship as well as South Shore Records Management. He joined the company in 1992, and was charged with leading sales and marketing efforts, growing the business through its affiliation with Atlas Van Lines and building and maintaining the company's client base in the New York Metro region.

Thanksgiving for Katrina Relief: New York Jets Host Week of Events to Benefit Gulf Coast Region

November 2005, New York City... The New York Jets held "Thanksgiving for Katrina Relief," a week-long series of events leading up to the Jets vs. New Orleans Saints game on November 27, 2005. To assist victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Jets conducted several initiatives, including a food drive, hosting 45 family members from the Gulf Coast region, and assisting the American Red Cross in a collection prior to the Jets–Saints nationally televised game on Sunday, November 27.

On Tuesday, November 22, 2005, A-1 First Class - Viking Moving & Storage was on hand to help the New York Jets with their food drive on Long Island for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Trucks and volunteers, including A-1 First Class employees and their family members, were stationed at three Long Island Pathmark supermarket locations. A-1 First Class staff and family members loaded the trucks, and, immediately afterwards, the company dispatched one of its tractor-trailers directly to New Orleans with all the donated items.

Matt Schwartzberg, Vice President of A-1 First Class, commented, "We’re happy to be able to support the New York Jets’ efforts to improve conditions for New Orleans residents. A-1 First Class is a family-owned and run business, so we know what it means to have the community get behind a charity drive like this. We’ve been working with the Jets for years so we really wanted to get involved with this initiative. And I'm so proud that our employees, and even their families, responded with
so much enthusiasm."

The three simultaneous food drives were conducted at Pathmark locations in Baldwin, Franklin Square and East Meadow, Long Island. Fans were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items, to be given to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana for distribution to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The food drives ran from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. Jets players were on hand for several hours at all three locations to encourage patrons to donate. Quarterback Jay Fiedler was at the Baldwin location, center Kevin Mawae and tight end/ long snapper James Dearth, at the Franklin Square location and safety Oliver Celestin, fullback Jerald Sowell and linebacker Darrell McClover, at the East Meadow location.

On Sunday, November 27, 2005 the Jets hosted families that have been displaced, owing to Hurricane Katrina, to the game vs. the New Orleans Saints. The 45 people, who have been living in Newark, NJ, and have been assisted by the Newark Community Health Service, enjoyed dinner in the VIP hospitality tent before helping to introduce both the New York Jets and the New Orleans Saints prior to the 8:30 p.m. kickoff.

Additionally, the Jets, in conjunction with the Bergen/Hudson Chapter of the American Red Cross, collected monetary donations as viewers entered the stadium. Fans were encouraged to donate at collection stations at all gates. During the Jets vs. Miami game on September 18, 2005, more than $17,000 was collected to assist Gulf Coast residents.

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