Sended on: 04/14/2009

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Dear Friends of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund,

What a year of progress this has been for usthanks to your  continued generous supportand what a year of positive changes looking forward to the future.

To unify the various efforts that were working to support the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust in Kenya, and to clarify the focus of those efforts, we have changed our name to the MAASAI WILDERNESS CONSERVATION FUND. It was time for the terrific initial work of the Maasai Foundation of East Africa to evolve and forge a clearer, more direct and more efficient supportive link to the work of the Trust in Kenya.

The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Funds mission is to support the preservation of biodiversity within Maasai tribal lands of East Africa by promoting conservation, education and health services within the Maasai community. The uniqueness of both equatorial Africas grassland ecosystems and the storied culture of the Maasai people face a daunting challenge to survive and co-exist in a sustainable manner. Recognizing that the fate of both rests with the Maasai themselves, MWCF raises awareness and financial support in the U.S. to support the work of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust in Kenya. Funding provided by MWCF supports a host of programs designed not only to conserve the legendary wildlife of the area, but to encourage sustainable land practices to benefit the ecosystem, and ultimately preserve the traditional Maasai way of life.

Second, we are excited to introduce the new, expanded Board of Directors and Advisory Board of MWCF. Our new team is listed at the close of this letter.

And finally, most important, a recap of the accomplishments your generous contributions have helped facilitate. In the past two years, the Kenyan Trust has grown from 44 employees with an annual payroll of $35,000 to 115 employees with a payroll of $300,000!!

EDUCATION: an eight classroom school serving 600 students has been constructed, including teachers accommodations, for a total of $200,000.

MEDICAL SERVICES: the dispensary now has running water and electricity, and housing for a full-time physician and medical volunteers has been built.

CONSERVATION: the success of the Simba Project is reflected in an increase of the lion population from 15 to 29 in just 15 months!

A quarterly budget of nearly $90,000 has been funded primarily through your contributions, with a smaller portion funded directly through the Kenyan Trust from conservation fees collected at Campi ya Kanzithe eco-lodge owned by the Maasai of the Kuku Group Ranch.

In addition to this operating budget, there are several pending projects we hope to be able to fund in 2008 as well:

The purchase of an ambulance: $50,000
Adding 7,000 new acres to the land conservancy: $50,000

This brings our funding goal to $460,000 for this year.

In December we will host two fundraising events: one in Santa Barbara on Dec. 2, and one in New York City on Dec. 7. Look for your invite coming out this fall, and please help us introduce new friends to our effort.

Until then, please consider augmenting your generous support. Though appearing at a distance, removed from our daily lives, this effort represents a model of success that will inspire real solutions to similar challenges all over the world.

And did you know that for the price of a daily cup of your favorite Starbucks you can pay the salary of a secondary school teacher or a Simba Project game scout for ONE YEAR?

Can we count on you for a cup?

Thank you. Were hugely appreciative of your ongoing support for this work.

Edward Norton - President

Edward Norton, President
Edward Norton Sr., Advisory Board
Gail Young, Vice President
John Grisham, Advisory Board
Jeff Miller, Treasurer
Kristin Davis, Advisory Board
George Giguere, Secretary
Veronika Borchers, Public Relations and Events Director
Renee Grisham, Director
Debra Michelson, Director
Clare Corroone, Educational Scholarships
Luca Belpietro, Member
Samson Parashina, Member