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Media Advisory for Immediate Release

February 2, 2009

CALGARY NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SHARE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THROUGH TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES

Calgary, Alberta – Despite dire predictions this week that as many as 12,000 Canadian charities could fall victim to the economic downturn this year, more than 30 Calgary based non-profit organizations are weathering the storm by banding their resources and expertise together. The organizations share a common mission to work in developing countries and have been brought together in a collaborative forum by the Fig Tree Foundation.

The Fig Tree Foundation is committed to supporting projects and programs that demonstrate the best potential return on every dollar raised, and promotes being as cost effective as possible –whether during lean times or times of plenty.

The Fig Tree Foundation, which began in 2005 with just 5 member organizations, created a roundtable forum for local non-government organizations to meet, exchange experiences and explore collaborative opportunities, both in person and virtually, through a global website.

Since then, Fig Tree Foundation has grown to over 30 member charities and some members are all ready seeing the benefits of collaboration. True Vision Ghana, the Fontaine Children’s Charity Foundation and the Africa Book Project have recently completed a successful fundraising effort

The 3 organizations hosted an advanced screening of Dr. Wayne Dyer’s new movie “Ambition to Meaning” in early January. Over 200 people attended the fundraiser and learned more about each organization. “The film focuses on the giving back to others… a life of service doing what you can do to make someone’s life better is rewarding in ways you can’t being to imagine!” says Evelyn Tanaka of True Vision Ghana.

Tiffany Fontaine of the Fontaine Children’s Charity Foundation agrees, “Collaborating with other organizations that also work towards helping children in Africa, makes events bigger than they would have been, had we done it alone and that brings much more awareness to the groups of children we work with.”

For Information on the Fig Tree Foundation visit: www.figtreefoundation.org



Media Inquiries can be directed to:

Paul Gomes
Executive Director, Fig Tree Foundation
403-815-7828



BACKGROUND

The Fig Tree Foundation is a Calgary-based group dedicated to helping disadvantaged populations around the world by raising funds for registered international aid and development organizations who participate at the Fig Tree Roundtable.

Since 2005, the Fig Tree Foundation has brought these local aid and development agencies together via the Roundtable. Enabling organizations to work together in order to maximize impact abroad in a peer based, cooperative “best practices” environment.

There are currently 25+ members of the Fig Tree Foundation's Round Table - including Medical Mercy Canada Society, Aga Khan University and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan.

The Fig Tree Foundation has recently begun working to raise the funds necessary to establish a 5 million dollar endowment that will act as the initial capital for a sustainable source of funding for worthwhile international aid and development projects