Command of the Grill Cookbook Benefits U.S. Marine Charities

NEW YORK (May 25, 2006) - Col. Stewart Navarre from Camp Pendleton claimed the "Command of the Grill" championship title after edging out nine other Marines in Weber's first grilling competition created solely for the men and women serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Hundreds of spectators gathered in Times Square to watch 10 U.S. Marines command their charcoal to create the perfect steak. Armed with tongs and their own special recipe, each Marine prepared and grilled a New York Strip steak.

Weber-Stephen Products Co. has published a very special cookbook, Command of the Grill - A Salute to Steak(TM), which features grilled steak recipes by active, reserve, and famous former U.S. Marines. One hundred percent of sales from the 80-page, 41-recipe cookbook, which retails for $10, will go to four charities that directly benefit U.S. Marines wounded or killed in the line of duty and their families.

Navarre, a native of Evansville, Indiana whose Combat Steak recipe, which featured a salt, pepper and garlic rub, with grilled mushrooms won over the panel of judges, said, "I was absolutely honored to be part of the competition and absolutely surprised to win. The opportunity to participate with my fellow Marines in this event and support the four charities made it very special for us."

Navarre's Combat Steak along with recipes from his fellow competitors and former famous Marines, including Ed McMahon, are featured in a new fundraising cookbook Command of the Grill - A Salute to Steak(TM). The book can be purchased for $10 (plus tax and shipping) from http://www.commandofthegrill.com.

All proceeds from the sale of Weber's Command of the Grill cookbook will go to the following charities:

Wounded Warrior Project: The Project seeks to assist those men and women of our armed forces who have been severely injured during the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots around the world. http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund: The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund was formed to provide supplemental assistance to our Marines, sailors, and their families as they face the road to recovery. http://www.semperfifund.org/

Fisher House: There is at least one Fisher House(TM) at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves more than 8,500 families, and has made available more than two million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990. http://www.fisherhouse.org/

Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation: The organization primarily renders assistance to children of Marines or Federal law enforcement personnel who were killed on duty or died under extraordinary circumstances while serving the U.S. at home or abroad. http://www.mclef.org/

As the "Command of the Grill" champion, Navarre will take home a prize package worth more than $5,000 that includes a new luxury Weber(R) gas grill along with a grilling lesson and dinner for Navarre and 10 Marine buddies with acclaimed chef and best-selling cookbook author Jamie Purviance.

Weber-Stephen Products Co., headquartered in Palatine, Ill., is the premier manufacturer of charcoal and gas grills, grilling accessories, and other outdoor room products. In 1952, founder George Stephen designed the Weber(R) kettle with a lid that allows outdoor cooks to grill in all kinds of weather. A family-owned business for more than 50 years, Weber has grown to be a leading exporter of outdoor grills worldwide. Weber charcoal and gas grills are available at select home centers, hardware stores, department stores, patio stores, and other retail outlets. Weber has the strongest consumer outreach program in the industry with its all-year, round-the-clock Weber Grill-Line(SM) (1-800-GRILL-OUT(R)) and a content-rich website with grilling tips, techniques, and more than 200 original Weber recipes at http://www.weber.com(tm/).