INDIANAPOLIS, Jun 9, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Just in time for summer, Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) has introduced a new children's club, Simon Kidgits Club, designed to build consumer loyalty and reinforce the mall as a family destination, especially among the powerful 25- to 49-year-old female audience.

The Simon Kidgits Club offers programs focused on health and wellness, education, safety and entertainment. Since the program was announced last month, nearly 25,000 children and parents have enrolled. This month, Simon Kidgits Club will ramp up with a "Safe Summer Fun Summer" event in 80 Simon malls across the country, featuring summer safety tips for parents and fun and educational activities for children. Safe Summer Fun Summer will be conducted in partnership with local safety-oriented community organizations and agencies, and will include guidelines and suggestions provided by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.

The Simon Kidgits Club is the latest platform within Simon's business strategy to further reinforce the company's position as a highly effective marketing channel through Simon Brand Ventures, its strategic marketing division. Additional programs currently in development include platforms targeted at teens, boomers, entertainment, holiday and fitness, among others.

"We created this platform as a licensed program in order to build a brand that will connect and interface with a key consumer base," said Stewart Stockdale, chief marketing officer of Simon Property Group and president of Simon Brand Ventures. "The platform is experiential in nature, scalable, and it will engage tenants, consumers and consumer brands through unique programming opportunities."

Simon Kidgits Club also is a compelling tool for Simon's marketing partners who, through the Simon Kidgits Club, can connect with the important 25- to 49-year-old female audience, according to Cathi Weiner, senior vice president of business development for Simon Brand Ventures.

"While each mall will have its unique programs, they will also have programs that will be consistent across our mall portfolio," Ms. Weiner said. "The proprietary nature of the Simon Kidgits Club provides Simon the opportunity to build on the content and merchandising of the licensed characters, as well as to develop product and marketing alliances that will enhance the programming for our club members," she added.

Beyond Safe Summer Fun Summer, additional Simon Kidgit Club programming is currently being developed to appeal to title sponsors in such categories as toys, nutrition and consumer packaged goods, among others, who target this valuable demographic to whom the Simon Kidgit Club appeals.

Each Simon Kidgits Club member receives his or her own official Simon Kidgits Club membership package and T-shirt at the time of enrollment. Other Simon Kidgits Club membership benefits include: special invitations to programs and activities at the mall; special discounts and rewards for members only; a Birthday Club (including birthday card and gift redemption certificate); and a periodic newsletter with games, educational features and special news.

A special Simon Kidgits Club website, www.simonkidgitsclub.com , offers more club information and activities. The www.simon.com website also contains a link to the Simon Kidgits Club.

About National SAFE KIDS Campaign

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign is the first and only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury -- the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. More than three hundred state and local SAFE KIDS coalitions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, comprise the Campaign. www.safekids.org

About Simon Brand Ventures

Founded in 1997, Simon Brand Ventures has pioneered the transformation of shopping malls into a medium where consumer brands can build one-on-one relationships with more than 100 million shoppers who make approximately 2 billion visits to Simon malls each year.

Simon Brand Ventures has entered into strategic partnerships with more than 100 retailers and sponsors within the last year, including Coca-Cola, Cingular Wireless, Reebok and VISA U.S.A., to stage memorable brand experiences in Simon malls through a variety of media platforms.

About Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership and management of income-producing properties, primarily regional malls and community shopping centers. Through its subsidiary partnerships, it currently owns or has an interest in 238 properties containing an aggregate of 182 million square feet of gross leasable area in 36 states, as well as nine assets in Europe and Canada. Additional Simon Property Group information is available at www.simon.com .

SOURCE Simon Property Group, Inc.

Billie Scott of Simon Property Group, Inc., +1-317-263-7148