Grainger Assists Gulf Region in Recovery Efforts

Industrial Distributor Donates Over $1 Million of Supplies and Cash to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund

WASHINGTON, Thursday, September 01, 2005 — Grainger (NYSE: GWW), North America's leading distributor of facilities maintenance supplies, has pledged more than $1 million in cash and emergency supplies such as tarps, gloves, flashlights and batteries to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help communities and businesses recover following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. The company also is encouraging its employees to contribute to the recovery efforts by providing a four-to-one match of employee gifts to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

"Our greatest concern is the health and safety of the people affected by the deadly hurricane," said Richard L. Keyser, Chairman and CEO, Grainger. "We have built a strong tradition and take great pride in helping communities and businesses in times of need. We help by quickly providing needed supplies and materials to help get their facilities back up and running."

Grainger employees throughout the United States are pulling together to support the affected area in numerous ways. From teams working to get emergency supplies where they are needed most to teams traveling to the affected area to serve customers out of the local branches, Grainger employees are there to support customers in their time of need. Other employees in Denver and Chicago are participating in the American Red Cross' Ready When the Time Comes volunteer program to help answer calls from people in the affected communities and guide them to assistance.

Grainger has served local businesses in the Louisiana community for more than 60 years from its branch location in New Orleans and today operates seven branches in the state. Other key branches active in the disaster response include locations in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.

Grainger provides quick access to more than 500,000 products and has a long history of responding to emergencies. The company draws from an extensive network of more than 1,000 suppliers and is able to provide products when and where they are needed. Grainger is committed to helping the community and area businesses get back up and running in the wake of the catastrophe.

About Grainger W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), with 2004 sales of $5 billion, is the leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and institutions throughout North America. Through its network of nearly 600 branches, 18 distribution centers and multiple Web sites, Grainger helps customers save time and money by providing them with the right products to keep their facilities running.