FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Peace Corps Salutes Partner Support for Overseas Projects

- AOL Time Warner Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, and USAID -

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 21, 2003 – Today, Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez and staff honored the AOL Time Warner Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for their support of two of the Peace Corps’ most pioneering programs.

	Director Vasquez with Michele Sacconaghi of AOL Time Warner Foundation, left, and Roxanna Rogers of USAID.

The Peace Corps Peace Packs Program – sponsored by the AOL Time Warner Foundation – and the Peace Corps’ HIV/AIDS Prevention and Mitigation Initiative – a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, and USAID – were selected as being among the top three best practices programs in public/private partnerships by the Interagency Working Group on U.S. Government – Sponsored International Exchanges and Training.

"Peace Corps is tremendously honored to have two of our programs recognized as best practices for 2003," remarked Peace Corps Director Vasquez. "The generous support of our sponsors and partners - the AOL Time Warner Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development - has enhanced the ability of Peace Corps volunteers to work in two areas that are at the heart of the Peace Corps\' effort: technological enrichment and HIV/AIDS awareness."

The Peace Corps Peace Packs Program, sponsored by the AOL Time Warner Foundation, seeks to enhance 21st century literacy by enabling communities in developing countries to connect to the world of information, learning, and opportunity by means of technology. The Peace Packs program awards grants to Peace Corps volunteers who propose innovative ways to use information technology in order to enrich the communities in which they served. The AOL Time Warner Foundation pledged $1 million over a two-year period for the Peace Packs Program.

The Peace Corps’ HIV/AIDS Prevention and Mitigation Initiative is a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, and USAID. The Initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of local populations to combat the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS in Africa and other regions of the world. This program will aid in the fight against HIV/AIDS through extensive training of Peace Corps volunteers and community members, the development of materials to be used for educational purposes, and through grants to community-sponsored projects that battle the virus. Among the three organizations, $2.25 million was dedicated to the program.

Since 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and awareness, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.

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