Plant With Purpose - press releases

Recent News Coverage

1/13/10 Fox 5 News http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-ships-haiti,0,5380575.story

1/14/10 KPBS http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/jan/14/san-diego-aid-organizations-help-haiti/

1/14/10 KUSI http://www.kusi.com/news/goodmorning/81791382.html

Press Releases

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 organization’s 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 recommends that immediate relief donations to Haiti should be allocated through an agency with a professional disaster response capability such as our colleagues listed on the InterAction website.

Plant With Purpose will continue to post updates as soon as they receive them at www.plantwithpurpose.blogspot.com. To make a donation to Plant With Purpose, visit www.plantwithpurpose.org.

Plant With Purpose Executive Director Scott Sabin Available for Haiti Earthquake Inquiries

Environmental nonprofit works to eradicate poverty in 84 communities in Haiti

SAN DIEGO – January 12, 2010 – In response to the recent earthquake in Haiti, Plant With Purpose Executive Director Scott Sabin is available for comments and interviews regarding the organization’s work in Haiti.

Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization working internationally to reverse poverty and deforestation among the rural poor, currently works in 84 villages in Haiti and focuses on long term development work to ensure that villages are more resilient to natural disasters. The organization has worked with rural Haitian farmers 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 raise $143,000 to aid 2,000 Haitian farmers who lost their homes, crops, and stability.

Plant With Purpose has been attempting to reach their Haitian staff, most of whom are located 40 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, by cell phone and email to assess the damage, but have not been able to connect yet. They will post updates as soon as they receive them at www.plantwithpurpose.blogspot.com.

Please contact Kate McElhinney for all media inquiries at kate@plantwithpurpose.org or office line (858) 274-3718 or cell phone (925) 872-1642.

Plant With Purpose Celebrates 25 Years with Most Successful Gala Ever

Event Raises a Record Breaking $317,000 to Benefit the Rural Poor

SAN DIEGO – October 10, 2009 – Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization working internationally to reverse poverty and deforestation among the rural poor, recently had its most successful gala to date raising a record breaking $317,000 to directly benefit the lives of the rural poor around the globe. The amount garnered is a tremendous jump from last year’s event, which raised $228,085.

Hosted on October 10th at the San Diego Marriott La Jolla by renowned auctioneer and former NBC San Diego morning news anchor Bill Menish, the annual Planting Hope Gala is the organization’s largest fundraising event of the year and had over 300 guests in attendance who participated in silent and live auctions and celebrated Plant With Purpose’s 25th anniversary of helping to transform impoverished communities.

All the proceeds from the evening will go toward the greatest needs in the six countries where Plant With Purpose works, including reforestation projects in Haiti, community-based savings and loan systems in Tanzania, and greenhouses in Mexico.

“We are so pleased by the incredible amount raised,” said Scott Sabin, Executive Director of Floresta. “It is amazing to witness people’s generosity and altruistic spirit despite the unstable state of the economy. The funds raised will allow us to multiply our efforts and ultimately make a significant impact in the lives of the rural poor.”

Plant With Purpose has planted over 4 million trees worldwide since 1984. The organization currently has programs in six countries, including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Tanzania, Burundi, and Thailand. Just one dollar plants a tree which starts the process of reversing deforestation and poverty.

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.

Floresta Launches Plant With Purpose to Restore the Environment and Reverse Poverty Worldwide
New Initiative Uses Revolutionary Technology to Grow Villages and Raise Awareness

SAN DIEGO – April 8, 2009 – Building on 25 years of successfully protecting the environment and helping the rural poor, the global non-profit organization, Floresta, has launched Plant With Purpose, a bold approach to capture the groundswell of interest in addressing environmental and social justice issues worldwide. The new online community offers visitors a closer connection with nearly 200 villages being served around the world.

“People today are becoming more aware of the urgency involved in restoring our environment, and they feel empowered to make an impact that will last for generations to come,” said Scott Sabin, Executive Director of Floresta. “Plant With Purpose provides an immediate opportunity for people to transform the lives of the rural poor by restoring their land and offering them economic opportunities.”

One of the programs, Grow a Village, allows donors to support a share of a village for only $30 a month. Additionally, people can shop for program needs such as water cisterns, environmentally safe stoves and latrines, and livestock. Web site visitors can virtually tour communities, donate to a need, and then automatically view the impact of their contribution as the Web site tracks the program’s funding.

“Grow a Village allows people a more tangible way to get involved,” said Doug Satre, Floresta’s Director of Outreach and Development. “Donors are able to view pictures of the rural farmers, the indigenous program staff, and descriptions of the villages so they feel connected and become more educated on the challenges these people face. Alternatively, visitors have the option to make a general donation.”

Floresta has already planted 4 million trees and made over 6,500 small business loans worldwide since 1984. The organization currently has programs in six countries, including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Tanzania, Burundi, and Thailand.

About Plant With Purpose
Plant With Purpose (www.plantwithpurpose.org) is an international Christian 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. Check out our video!

For all media inquiries, please contact:

Kate McElhinney
Marketing Coordinator
(858) 200-0004 Office
(925) 872-1642 Cell
kate@plantwithpurpose.org