SPECIAL OLYMPICS LAUNCHES ONLINE "SHOP & SUPPORT" PROGRAM
WURLD Media`s BuyersPort e-commerce loyalty program customized to increase contributions for Special Olympics
Washington, D.C. and Saratoga Springs, NY - MAY 5, 2003 - Special Olympics and WURLD Media Inc. today announced an agreement of a privately labeled BuyersPort platform for the launch of the Special Olympics Shop & Support Program. The Shop & Support Program is a specially tailored e-commerce and loyalty platform that provides supporters of Special Olympics with an opportunity to generate additional contributions as they make purchases on the Web. As Shop & Support members shop online with featured retailers, a portion of every dollar spent is donated to Special Olympics.
"We are very excited to launch the Special Olympics Shop & Support Program as a way to raise incremental donations for our Programs," said Jim Schmutz, Managing Director, Special Olympics North America. "It became clear during the 2002 holiday season that shopping online has moved firmly into the mainstream, and WURLD Media has provided us with a quick and simple way to harness the purchasing power of the growing community of online consumers and Special Olympics supporters. The new Shop & Support Program affords our stakeholders, at no additional costs to themselves, the opportunity to generate donations for Special Olympics by simply shopping online."
WURLD Media`s BuyersPort Network consists of an affinity program contracted with the top online merchants, creating an incentive-based e-commerce portal. With the launch of the Special Olympics Shop & Support Program, BuyersPort has for the first time been customized to increase charitable giving on the Web.
According to Greg Kerber, CEO and Chairman of WURLD Media, Inc., "By partnering with Special Olympics, we hope to not only increase overall charitable contributions to a very fine movement, but also provide a way for our retail partners to demonstrate their own commitment to individuals with mental retardation."
Greg Kerber and his wife, Sue, are the parents of a daughter born with Down Syndrome. Alexis "Lexy" Nicole`s birth, filled with many challenges and joys, led them to create a company that would provide for their daughter`s future. Over the last three years, as WURLD Media began to take shape, the Kerbers recognized they had the opportunity to provide assistance for others in the community who faced similar challenges.
The Kerber family has enabled the creation of the "Lexy Foundation", which works to give support to parents working to meet the needs of children with disabilities both financially and emotionally. In addition to the Lexy Foundation, an overall percentage of WURLD Media`s corporate earnings will be donated to a variety of charitable organizations, including Special Olympics.
According to Greg Kerber, "WURLD Media is thrilled to provide a new avenue of support for Special Olympics. We believe organizations such as theirs offer a very unique opportunity for the world of e-commerce, and in return, e-commerce offers a powerful new method to generate substantial financial resources for their programs."
To access the Special Olympics Shop & Support Program, users can download the free "careware" component at www.soshopping.com or www.specialolympics.org.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international year-round program of sports training and competition for individuals with mental retardation. More than 1 million athletes in more than 150 countries train and compete in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with mental retardation continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athle tes, their families and the community. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit Special Olympics online at www.specialolympics.org or on AOL (Keyword: Special Olympics)
About WURLD Media, Inc.
WURLD Media, Inc. is the parent company of several unique and innovative technology products providing business solutions that assist companies and consumers to realize mutual value relationships. WURLD Media has quickly become a leader in the e-commerce community by providing products that benefit consumers and retailers. Founded in 1999, WURLD Media, Inc. is a privately held company based in Saratoga Springs, New York. For more information about WURLD Media, please visit www.wurldmedia.com.
PRESS CONTACTS:
Lee Graham
WURLD Media, Inc.
212-333-4983
leegraham@leegraham.biz
Arlene Whittick
Special Olympics
202-824-0395
awhittick@specialolympics.org
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