Make Mine a Million $ Business Program Celebrates Power of Women Owned Businesses with Ringing of The Opening Bell(SM) at New York Stock Exchange Friday, September 2, 2011

Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, a leading non-profit provider of resources, business education and community support for women entrepreneurs, will ring the Opening Bell of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") on Friday, September 2, 2011.

Count Me In will use this prestigious occasion to raise awareness around the need for more women-owned businesses to grow into million dollar enterprises in order to create much needed jobs and stimulate economic growth in communities across the US.

"We are delighted to celebrate the power of women owned businesses with this important institution,” said Nell Merlino, Founder and President of Count Me In, who will do the honors on Friday. "Women entrepreneurs are helping to fuel the US economy with innovation, economic activity and, most important this Labor Day, jobs for Americans across the country. Ringing the Opening Bell will not only symbolize a new day of opportunity for these women to grab their piece of the American dream, but remind us all of the need to support their growth with programs like Make Mine a Million $ Business.”

Launched in 2005 with founding sponsor American Express (NYSE: AXP) OPEN, the Make Mine a Million $ Business (M3) program has galvanized thousands of women to take steps toward growing their businesses with proven tools, business coaching, community support and more.

US Census statistics indicate that while women-owned businesses represented nearly 50% of privately held companies in the US, only 2.6% of those businesses are at $1 million or more in annual revenues, compared to 6% of men-owned firms. In fact most women-owned businesses are at $50,000 or less in revenues. Since its introduction in 2005, 28% of program participants have reached the million dollar threshold and several are included in the 2011 "Top Women-Run Companies” on the Inc. 5000 list.

In 2010, M3 Awardees and program participants employed more than 1,200 Americans in just about every conceivable industry – from construction, finance and technology, to fashion, childcare and food industries. In 2011, 100 more women will join the program on a track to reach the million dollar mark within 18-36 months. CMI’s goal is to bring 1,000 women owned businesses to or beyond $1 million in annual revenues through the program, generating $1Billion in economic impact and at least 25,000 sustainable jobs nationwide.

Joining Merlino on the bell podium on Friday will be women who have grown their businesses significantly with support of the M3 program:

Also joining Merlino and M3 Community Members on the bell platform will be members of the M3 1000 National Steering Committee and other initiative supporters:

• Lisa Price, Founder and CEO, Carol’s Daughter
• Jen Groover, Nationally renowned entrepreneur, business expert and media personality
• Stacey Schieffelin, Founder and President, ybf (Your Best Friend)
• Rosa Alfonso, Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, American Express
• Angela Jenkins, Co-Owner, Bell’s Professional Services (small business currently growing through M3)

A live webcast of the Opening Bell(SM) (beginning at 9:29 a.m. Eastern Time on September 2) will be available on the NYSE website at www.nyse.com. A link to the bell ringing will be posted to Count Me In’s website www.makemineamillion.org and on YouTube (NYSETV1) following the event. The bell ringing can also be followed via Twitter @NYSE_euronext and @M3Award or on Facebook "NYSE Euronext - Official Page." Media interested in covering the bell ringing must contact Annmarie Gioia at 212-656-5437or email agioia@nyx.com in order to obtain entry to the ceremony.

About Count Me In and Make Mine a Million $ Business

Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education and community support for women entrepreneurs seeking to grow micro businesses into million dollar enterprises. Count Me In launched Make Mine a Million $ Business with founding sponsor American Express OPEN to inspire one million women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses to a million dollars in revenue by providing tools, skills and support of a nation-wide community of peers.

Count Me In’s next Make Mine a Million $ Business event will be M3 1000 Philadelphia, September 25-26, 2011. As many as 250 women entrepreneurs from across the country will gather for this one-of-a-kind event designed to harness the power of community, confidence and control for women business owners. Participants will pitch their businesses before a panel of judges for a chance to win a $1,000 American Express gift card and a coveted spot in our M3 program; participate in business growth education sessions; hear from women entrepreneurs who have passed the million $ revenue mark; and connect with potential new clients, vendors and peer entrepreneurs from across the country. Interested entrepreneurs can register at www.makemineamillion.org/events.