Army of Believers Scholarship Luncheon set for August 8th 11:30 a.m. Marriott Key Center

CLEVELAND, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In celebration of the 100-year partnership between The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) and Ernst & Young, both organizations have made a $25,000 ($50,000 total) commitment to the students of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) for academic scholarships.

Each organization will award five $1,000 scholarships, for annual renewal up to five years. Sherwin-Williams recipients will pursue degrees in technology and science while Ernst & Young students will focus on accounting and business. Scholarship recipients will also be given the opportunity for internships at both companies. 'As we continuously look for ways to simplify our students' transition from high school to college, generous donations such as these help to fill in the financial gap that might impede some students progression on to higher education,' says Dr. Eugene Sanders, Cleveland Schools CEO.

Sherwin-Williams Chairman and CEO Christopher M. Connor will provide details surrounding the Sherwin-Williams and Ernst & Young scholarship programs on Friday, August 8, 2008 at the CMSD Army of Believers Scholarship Luncheon. (11:30 a.m. Marriott Key Center) Scholarships will be awarded in the spring to seniors graduating in 2009.

Connor said, 'At Sherwin-Williams education is one of the priority drivers that fuels our global growth and innovation. We are proud of our strong relationship with Cleveland Schools and look forward to supporting these young scholars as they embark on an exciting educational experience.'

Donald Misheff, Ernst & Young Northeast Ohio managing partner said, 'We're excited about our partnership with Cleveland Schools. In seeking to serve our clients, E&Y's 1,170 employees value ongoing mentoring and education. We never miss a chance to improve. Helping Cleveland high school students further their education is a wonderful opportunity to invest in our most precious resource -- our children.'

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution and sale of coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams(R), Dutch Boy(R), Krylon(R), Minwax(R), Thompson's(R) Water Seal(R), and many more.

With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams(R) branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 3,000 company-operated stores and facilities, while the company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Global Group distributes a wide range of products in more than 30 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.sherwin.com

    Contact: Mike Conway
             Director Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
             Sherwin-Williams
             Direct: 216.515.4393
             Pager: 216.422.3751
             mike.conway@sherwin.com

SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company