Contact: Kate McElhinney Marketing Coordinator (858) 274-3718 Office (925) 872-1642 Cell kate@plantwithpurpose.

org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Plant With Purpose Haiti Staff Report that they are Unharmed by Earthquake
SAN DIEGO January 13, 2010 Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization working internationally to reverse poverty and deforestation among the rural poor, has just heard that most of their 40 staff members in Haiti are ok and were unharmed by the earthquake. Guy Paraison, the Plant With Purpose Haiti Program Director, reported via email that the Episcopalian school, the church, and the guest house in the organizations headquarters in the community of Gran Colline are severely damaged, however the Plant With Purpose office still stands unharmed and the staff members are all ok. This is a tremendous blessing and relief, said Plant With Purpose Executive Director Scott Sabin. We are grateful that our staff is ok, but our prayers go out to our board members and the farmers who are still unaccounted for. Plant With Purpose has worked in Haiti since 1997 to eradicate poverty through reforestation efforts, soil conservation, and community savings and loan groups. After the devastating hurricanes of 2008, Plant With Purpose was able to reestablish farms for 2,000 Haitian families who lost their homes, crops, and stability. The organization will be intimately involved in the intermediate and long-term recovery efforts of this natural disaster as well, and welcomes donations. In the days and weeks to come, the impact of the disaster will still be felt and in many ways will be more acute as those who have lost everything attempt to rebuild their lives, said Sabin. This is when recovery, rehabilitation, and ultimately long-term development will become increasingly important. Plant With Purpose is accepting donations toward Haiti relief and recovery at www.plantwithpurpose.org, and 100% of all donations designated for earthquake recovery will go directly to the relief effort. Plant With Purpose will continue to post updates as soon as they receive them at www.plantwithpurpose.blogspot.com. About Plant With Purpose

Plant With Purpose (www.plantwithpurpose.org) is an international environmental organization that transforms lives in rural areas where poverty is caused by deforestation. For 25 years, Plant With Purpose has provided lasting solutions to heal the relationship between people and their environment by planting trees, revitalizing farms, and offering loans to create economic opportunity.