Kiwanis Selects Three Finalists for Worldwide Service Project

Proposed projects will combat global diseases

INDIANAPOLIS, February 1 - Kiwanis International is searching for its next global cause, and its
International Board of Trustees has selected three Worldwide Service Project
finalists: Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases for their Neglected
Tropical Diseases (NTDs) proposal; Malaria No More and the Canadian Red Cross
for their joint malaria proposal; and UNICEF for its proposal on maternal and
neonatal tetanus.

"The three remaining proposals are extremely impressive," said Kiwanis
International President Paul Palazzolo. "Any one of them would make a great
Worldwide Service Project, and each would significantly improve the lives of
millions of children around the world."

Last fall, Kiwanis received nearly 200 Worldwide Service Project
proposals. Earlier this month, the board heard presentations on four
potential projects.

"Today, we begin engaging our members in the discussion on Kiwanis' next
Worldwide Service Project," Palazzolo said. "By visiting
www.kiwanis.org/wsp, our 600,000 adult and youth members have the
opportunity to view each proposal and participate in an online discussion
forum."

The website and discussion forum will be available in eight languages:
English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Japanese and Chinese.

The Kiwanis International Board will announce the next Worldwide Service
Project at the Kiwanis International Convention in Las Vegas, NV, in June.

Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases: NTDs

The Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases proposal's goal is to
ensure that the more than 1 billion children born between 2003 and 2020
journey into adulthood as the first generation to grow and thrive without the
burden of NTDs.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of 13 parasitic and
bacterial infections that are the most common infections of the 1.4 billion
people-including 600 million school-aged children-who live on less than
US$1.25 per day. They include intestinal worms, elephantiasis, and trachoma,
the world's leading cause of preventable blindness. Together, NTDs blind,
disfigure, stigmatize and kill, keeping those infected trapped in a cycle of
poverty and disease.

There are highly cost-effective, proven interventions for the seven most
common NTDs that account for 90 percent of the global NTD disease burden. For
approximately 50 cents per person per year, the diseases can be prevented and
treated. The Global Network proposes that a 10-year, US$150 million
investment will leverage US$1 billion globally.

Malaria No More and the Canadian Red Cross: Malaria

The Malaria No More (MNM) and the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) project
proposes to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015-a goal endorsed by the
global community.

Malaria kills 3,000 children in Africa every day. But thanks to a new
generation of tools, on-the-ground successes and increased political and
public support, the world is better prepared to defeat malaria now than at
any other time in history. Investments in malaria are reaping huge rewards,
and have helped reduce malaria deaths and illnesses by more than 50 percent
in several African countries, including Rwanda, Eritrea, Zambia, Botswana and
the Islands of Zanzibar between 2000 and 2008.

The project would raise US$60 million over six years for mosquito net
distribution, training and technical assistance and awareness.

UNICEF: Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus

Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) kills one baby every four minutes.
MNT can abruptly turn the joy of new life into wrenching tragedy. Its effects
are excruciating-tiny newborns suffer repeated, painful convulsions and
become hypersensitive to light, sound and touch. Even a mother's soothing
voice and comforting caress are unbearable for the infant. Few babies
survive. Tetanus may claim the mother's life as well.

In impoverished countries, where women have little access to health care,
many are forced to give birth in an unsanitary environment. Tetanus spores
are found everywhere-in the air, soil and contaminated objects. Bacteria can
enter the mother's body through open wounds and pass through a newly cut
umbilical cord. Once the baby is infected, a lethal toxin attacks his or her
nervous system.

Tetanus is highly preventable. Three doses of a vaccine can protect
mothers and babies.

The project would raise US$110 million to eliminate a deadly disease and
save 129 million mothers and their future babies.

What is a Worldwide Service Project?

Children and communities worldwide have diverse needs-access to
healthcare, clean water, safe shelter, safety from slavery, access to
education and so many others. A Worldwide Service Project is a directed
program that engages all 600,000 youth and adult Kiwanis family members to
make a positive difference in the world by helping children in need.

Kiwanis successfully completed its first Worldwide Service Project,
virtually eliminating iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Kiwanis raised more
than US$100 million, which helped change lives in more than 89 nations. The
number of households estimated to be consuming iodized salt has jumped from
20 percent in 1990 to more than 70 percent, and the effort has been heralded
as one of the most successful health initiatives in the world.

About Kiwanis International

Founded in 1915, Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated
to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Kiwanis
International and its service leadership programs for young people, including
Circle K International, Key Club International, Key Leader, Builders Club,
Kiwanis Kids, Kiwanis Junior and Aktion Club dedicate more than 19 million
volunteer hours and invest US$100 million to strengthen communities and serve
children annually. The Kiwanis International family comprises 600,000 adult
and youth members in 70 countries and geographic areas. For more information
about Kiwanis International, please visit www.kiwanis.org.

Jo Lynn Garing, O: +1-317-217-6171, C: +1-317-508-6337, jgaring at kiwanis.org, or Kristian Little, O: +1-317-217-6176, klittle at kiwanis.org, both of Kiwanis International