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Cooper-Standard Automotive Partners with Mitch Albom on Charities - Contributes Initial $50,000 as Lead Donation to Build Medical Center for Children of Detroit Homeless

Novi, Mich., January 28, 2008 - Cooper-Standard Automotive today announced it is teaming with Detroit-based journalist and author Mitch Albom as the first annual corporate sponsor of his charitable organizations. Albom's groups are focused on raising funds and providing direct support to those in need in Detroit. Cooper-Standard will contribute an initial $50,000 to help fund programs in 2008 and serve as the lead donor in a campaign to secure corporate funding to open and operate a medical center for the children of the homeless in Detroit. In addition to the initial $50,000, Cooper-Standard will coordinate fundraising activities throughout the year to provide additional funding.

"Charitable giving has been a core value of Cooper-Standard's for years," said Jim McElya, chairman and chief executive officer. "We are proud of our history of good corporate citizenship and take seriously our role in helping the communities in which we live and work. We sought out Mitch Albom because we are well aware of the charitable work he and his organizations have done in Detroit. We are delighted to be partnering with Mitch to further these worthwhile efforts and to take the lead in helping raise the funding for this very important medical center."

Mitch Albom is a highly respected author, journalist, and TV and radio personality. He is also a nationally syndicated columnist for The Detroit Free Press and his books have consistently been at the top of bestseller lists, including the recently published For One More Day. He has founded three charities: S.A.Y. Detroit, which was established in 2006 to reach out to Detroit's homeless and has, to date, raised in excess of $700,000; Time to Help, which was established in 1998 and has so far gathered groups of volunteers to work on more than 100 projects in the Detroit area; and, the Dream Fund, which has been providing scholarship funds since 1989 to enable underprivileged children to participate in the performing arts.

"I'd like to thank Cooper-Standard for its generous contribution to our charities and for taking the lead on securing additional donations to open the much-needed medical center for the children of the homeless," said Mitch Albom. "This important assistance comes at a time when that need is at its greatest."

"While our donation will provide financial support to Mitch Albom's charities, our support doesn't stop there," said McElya. "We hope to increase our contribution through proceeds of our annual charity golf outing held in June. We will also help Mitch secure additional corporate partners, and our employees in Southeast Michigan will provide hands-on assistance to Mitch with his Time to Help projects."

Cooper-Standard is also involved in a number of other charitable endeavors, including: Focus Hope, The United Way, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Marines Helping Marines and the National Alliance for Accessible Golf.



About Cooper-Standard Automotive
Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc., headquartered in Novi, Mich., specializes in the manufacture and marketing of systems and components for the global automotive industry. Its primary businesses include Body and Chassis Systems, consisting of sealing, noise, vibration, and harshness control parts, and Fluid Handling Systems, consisting of subsystems and components that direct, control, measure, and transport fluids and vapors throughout a vehicle. Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. employs more than 19,000 across 80 facilities in 19 countries. For more information, visit the company's Web site at: www.cooperstandard.com.

Since 1986, Goldman Sachs has raised thirteen private equity and mezzanine investment funds aggregating $56 billion of capital commitments. GS Capital Partners is the private equity vehicle through which The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. conducts its privately negotiated corporate equity investment activities. GS Capital Partners is currently investing its GS Capital Partners VI fund. GS Capital Partners is a global private equity group with a focus on large, sophisticated business opportunities in which value can be created through leveraging the resources of Goldman Sachs.

The Cypress Group is a private equity investment firm managing more than $3.5 billion of capital. Cypress has an extensive track record of making growth-oriented investments in targeted industry sectors and building equity value alongside proven management teams.



 


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