Stride Rite to Webcast Second Quarter Conference Call

Lexington, Massachusetts, June 18, 2001 - The Stride Rite Corporation (NYSE; SRR) expects to release its financial results for the second quarter of its fiscal year ending November 30, 2001 before the market opens on Tuesday, June 26, 2001. Later that morning at 10:00AM ET, Stride Rite will host a conference call to discuss the results, as well as business highlights and management's outlook for the remainder of fiscal 2001. The conference call will be webcast live beginning at 10:00AM ET on the Company's website, www.strideritecorp.com, and on CCBN.com's website, www.streetevents.com. Please log on to the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the conference call as it may be necessary to download software to access the call. A replay of the conference call will be available on both websites until July 3, 2001.

The Stride Rite Corporation markets the leading brand of high quality children's shoes in the United States. Other footwear products for children and adults are marketed by the Company under well-known brand names, including Keds, Sperry, Tommy Hilfiger, Grasshoppers, Munchkin and Street Hot. Information about the Company is available on our website - www.strideritecorp.com. Information about the Company's brands and product lines is available at www.striderite.com, www.keds.com and www.sperrytopsider.com.

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CONTACT: The Stride Rite Corporation Frank A. Caruso, Chief Financial Officer (617) 824-6611