The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF), America's largest provider of business information, today announced that Mary Lee Widener has been elected to serve as the newest member of its board of directors. Widener, who has served as president and chief executive officer of Neighborhood Housing Services of America (NHSA) in Oakland, Calif., since 1976, assumed her new responsibilities on May 18.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060519/LAF012 )

"I am pleased to have Mary Lee join our board," said Parker S. Kennedy, chairman and chief executive officer of The First American Corporation. "Mary Lee's proven track record in creating innovative homeownership models will provide an important perspective as First American pursues new ways to profitably grow its business in under-served markets. The integrity and insight that Mary Lee brings to her new position will complement the good work our directors are currently doing."

Widener has spent the majority of her career helping nonprofit and governmental organizations revitalize neighborhoods and increase homeownership opportunities through arranging for the extension of financial loans and the formation of business partnerships. In addition to the integral role that she has played in the development and growth of NHSA, Widener previously served as executive director for Oakland Neighborhood Housing Services from 1973 to 1976, and as urban program coordinator for the Federal Home Loan Bank Board of Washington, D.C., in the Oakland, Calif., office from 1972 to 1973. In 1974, Widener was also a co-lecturer in the political science department at the University of California, Davis.

In addition to her work with NHSA, Widener serves on several housing industry and nonprofit foundation boards. She currently serves as vice chairwoman of the board for Social Compact in Washington, D.C., a nonprofit organization that draws upon various business leaders to generate economic investments for use in lower-income communities; and from 2004 to 2006 she served as chairwoman of Social Compact's board.

Widener is presently a board member for three California organizations: The PMI Group, Inc., an international private mortgage insurer, since 1995; the S.H. Cowell Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that works to improve impoverished neighborhoods in Northern California, since 2000; and Operation HOPE, Inc., the nation's leading provider of economic tools and services that is focused on eradicating poverty, since 2003. In addition, she has been a member of the board of trustees for the National Housing Conference in Washington, D.C., since 2000.

Prior to her current involvement on the previously listed boards, Widener has served as a member of the board of directors for the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco from 1977 to 1982, and chairwoman of the board from 1994 to 2004. She also was a member of The San Francisco Foundation's board of trustees from 1988 to 1998, and chairwoman from 1996 to 1998.

The recipient of several prestigious awards, Widener was named Housing Person of the Year in 2000 by the National Housing Conference. Widener holds an honorary doctorate in law from John F. Kennedy University in Orinda, Calif., and currently resides in Oakland, Calif.

The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF), a FORTUNE 500(R) company that traces its history to 1889, is America's largest provider of business information. First American combines advanced analytics with its vast data resources to supply businesses and consumers with valuable information products to support the major economic events of people's lives, such as getting a job, renting an apartment, buying a car or house, securing a mortgage and opening or buying a business. The First American Family of Companies, many of which command leading market share positions in their respective industries, operate within five primary business segments, including: Title Insurance and Services, Specialty Insurance, Mortgage Information, Property Information, and Risk Mitigation and Business Solutions. With revenues of $8.1 billion in 2005, First American has approximately 2,100 offices throughout the United States and abroad. More information about the company and an archive of its press releases can be found at http://www.firstam.com.

Contact:

David Schulz

Corporate Communications

The First American Corporation

(714) 800-3298

dschulz@firstam.com

Source: prnewswire