Sended on: 10/05/2009

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Hello to all our friends and supporters,

With all the economic doom and gloom in the daily news and the forecast, Im glad to report that theres lots of good news, positive progress and exciting plans to share from Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund.

First, your support of the partnership between MWCF and Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust in Kenya has helped us make great strides toward our goals. 

Since last summer MWCF has:

• raised over $750,000 to support the programs in conservation, education and health care in the Maasai community
• prevented killing of any lions or other large predators for the second year in a row through our predator compensation program, resulting in a tripling in the local lion population within 24 months
• opened the new Chyulu Conservation and Research Center; a fully equipped former safari camp, now the headquarters of MWCT and a base for research and collaborative regional conservation efforts
• initiated new collaborations with African Wildlife Foundation, the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Partners in Health and pro bono projects with the companies AECOM and RMJM
• secured a 5000 acre wildlife conservancy zone through a pioneering lease agreement with the community a major 1st step toward our goal of a conservancy network that preserves ecosystem features while bringing annual revenue to the Maasai
• provided employment and other sustainable income for the local community through one of the worst droughts in memory

And much more&

To not only maintain these successes but expand on them, we continue to rely on your support.  But this year were not asking you to join us for dinner, were hitting the streets of NY.

MWCF is launching its first Maasai Marathon campaign.

Were fielding a team of 30 runners, led by 3 of our Maasai friends from Kuku, running the NY Marathon to raise awareness and funding for our work.

What can you do to help?  Its simple sponsor a runner.
www.maasaimarathon.com

A major media campaign and new corporate sponsors are already helping us promote the effort to a wider audience.  If you, our base of supporters, will generously match what you donated last year by sponsoring our teams assault on the marathon we will certainly exceed last years total.

This year its as easy as the click of a button.

As always, deep thanks for your contribution to these efforts.

Edward Norton
President of the Board
Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund