H&R Block Wins Prestigious Sears Partner in Progress Award

Apr 11, 2001

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) today announced that it was chosen from among 10,000 companies as a recipient of the prestigious Sears Partner in Progress Award for 2000.

The award is presented annually to select companies that supply Sears, Roebuck and Co. with quality products and services.

"It is an honor to be recognized by Sears for providing clients with quality services," said Tom Zimmerman, president, H&R Block Tax Services Inc. "For nearly 30 years, we have worked with Sears to provide value to clients, and our 'H&R Block at Sears' offices have been important in the overall success of our company." Block serves nearly 1.1 million clients through 737 H&R Block at Sears tax offices nationwide.

Begun almost 20 years ago, the Partners in Progress program recognizes companies that make significant contributions to the growth of Sears' businesses and the creation of new ways to better serve Sears' customers. The winners were selected from nominations submitted by Sears' store support organization.

H&R Block had previously won the Sears Partner in Progress Award for service in 1993.

Zimmerman and Pat Petrie, vice president of Retail Operations for H&R Block, were honored April 10 at an event hosted by Sears Chairman and CEO Alan J. Lacy at Sears headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

About Sears

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home, automotive products and services, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. The company serves families across the country through approximately 860 department stores, approximately 2,100 specialized retail locations, and a variety of online offerings accessible through the company's Web site at http://www.sears.com .

About H&R Block

H&R Block Inc. is a diversified company with subsidiaries providing a wide range of financial products and services. In 2000, H&R Block served 19.2 million taxpayers -- more than any tax or accounting firm -- through its more than 10,000 offices located in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. H&R Block served another 1.8 million tax clients through its award-winning software program, Kiplinger TaxCut(R), and through its new online tax preparation services. Investment services and securities products are offered through H&R Block Financial Advisors Inc., member NYSE, SIPC. H&R Block Inc. is not a registered broker-dealer. H&R Block Mortgage Corporation and Option One Mortgage Corporation offer a full range of home mortgage products. RSM McGladrey Inc. is a national accounting, tax and consulting firm with 100 offices nationwide, as well as an affiliation with 550 offices in 75 countries as the U.S. member of RSM International. Quarterly results and other information are available on the company's Web site at http://www.hrblock.com . SOURCE H&R Block

CONTACT: Dave Manchon, Media Relations of H&R Block, 816-701-4442