Exotic World Gifts Joins Ann Curry of NBC, Celebrities and First Ladies at UN Headquarters: "Global Compassion Ball" Honors Successes in Humanitarian

Del Mar, CA (Vocus) October 6, 2008 -- Exotic World Gifts, Inc., a humanitarian e-commerce import company, is among more than 400 luminaries attending the Airline Ambassador-sponsored black-tie event at the UN Headquarters in New York on October 16, 2008. As a Platinum Sponsor, Exotic World Gifts is making generous donations, including a "Collectors Edition" original painting by an elephant from Thailand and will unveil a joint humanitarian travel project with Airline Ambassadors during the event. They also will donate 15 percent of sales and table décor.

The ball will honor those who have "put compassion into action" and provide a platform for outstanding global citizens who assist children, orphans and families in the areas of poverty and hunger, education, health, child welfare and community development in projects on five continents. Ann Curry, co-anchor of Dateline NBC and news anchor of Today and Peter Greenberg, travel editor of Today and for America Online are the keynote speakers and co-chairs of the event. Ana Ligia Mixco de Saca, First Lady of El Salvador, Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, and other dignitaries will be in attendance.

Exotic World Gifts (www.ExoticWorldGifts.com) is an active member of the 2008 Global Compassion Ball Committee and is donating 400 hand-carved Kenyan painted soapstone hearts and centerpiece baskets from Uganda, Africa. The donated acrylic painting created by elephant "Hong" for the auction was the result of several visits Liz Allen, CEO and co-founder Mark Fangue made to their artisan groups in Thailand. While there, they discovered the only elephant in the world who can paint a realistic elephant with a flower. Sales from the painting on their Web site support villagers and assists in conservation efforts to save the Asian elephant from extinction. Mark Fangue took the video of Hong painting and, to date, it has received more than 9 million views on YouTube. Exotic World Gifts sells elephant art and more than 500 other authentic items from artisans worldwide to empower them with sustainable income. Individuals that purchase the items and support the artisans are participating in what Allen and Fangue call "compassion shopping.?"

"It is a natural for us to partner with Airline Ambassadors as they touch different parts of the world with their aid on the ground, global outreach efforts for education, vocational training, HIV awareness and volunteer vacations. We provide a sustainable income for artisans in these countries and offer artisans a way to open global distribution for their beautiful items," said Allen.

Allen explained that the travel arrangement is "just one of the many ways we compliment the mission of Airline Ambassadors in delivering aid and services to children and families in need. In this case, they provide aid, travel and the opportunity for individuals to participate in these initiatives; we will identify a full itinerary of humanitarian and artisan projects for this effort in Thailand and Cambodia." To support their on-the-ground missions beyond the gala fundraiser, Exotic World Gifts is donating 15 percent to Airline Ambassadors when their members or patrons purchase from www.ExoticWorldGifs.com throughout the year.

Exotic World Gifts will share information on its projects and artisan partners with global leaders as specific examples of how they have "put their compassion into action" in their for profit humanitarian business model. For example, while in Phnom Phen, Cambodia, they worked with eight new Fair Trade Landmine and Polio survivor artisan groups and personally met more than 30 talented artisans who created such items as elaborate woodcarving and handmade silk purses. "We have many heart-felt stories to share during the Compassion Ball and are honored to participate in this important event," said Fangue.

Exotic World Gifts is a privately-held Web-based import company and the founders reside in Del Mar, California. The Company currently imports more than 500 distinctive gifts, jewelry, fashion accessories, art and home décor items with a cause from eight developing regions of the world (Thailand, Bali, Africa, Vietnam, Cambodia, Central and South America and India). Each item is aesthetically rich and of high quality, often resembling works of art, but also has utility in everyday life. Exotic World Gifts.com follows the tenants of the Fair Trade Federation in the payment of a fair wages, good labor conditions, direct trade, community development and environmental sustainability. For more information, visit the Web site: www.exoticworldgifts.com

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