DUKAS PUBLIC RELATIONS JOINS FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA

NEW YORK; January 30, 2007 — Dukas Public Relations (DPR) has been named agency of record by “Madness Against Malaria (MAM),” a unique online international fundraising and awareness-raising initiative modeled after the NCAA March Madness college basketball tournament. In addition to providing its public relations expertise, DPR has also launched its own fundraising team—Team USA—to participate in the life-saving project. Team USA is currently ranked as one of the top five MAM teams (see www.madnessagainstmalaria.com/usa).

“The statistics surrounding malaria are mind-boggling,” said Richard Dukas, president of DPR. “Millions of people are unnecessarily dying. When we heard that something as simple as a $5 bed net could actually save a life, we knew we had to become involved. Everyone at DPR is committed to making an impact in the fight against malaria, both by promoting Madness Against Malaria and by raising funds directly as part of Team USA.”

Michael Steinhardt—the legendary hedge fund manager, philanthropist and DPR client—recently joined Team USA, as did DPR client Phoenix Ancient Art, one of the world’s foremost dealers of ancient art from Western Civilization; and Laurus Funds, a hedge fund with approximately $1.6 billion in assets. DPR is also soliciting support from other clients, contacts and interested parties.

In addition to raising much needed funds, MAM is striving to create awareness of the fatal disease. Public awareness is essential to drive additional support for governments, elected officials, non-government offices (NGOs) such as the World Health Organization, philanthropists and others as they work to bring an end to malaria over the next ten years.

MAM, the brainchild of hedge fund manager and philanthropist Lance Laifer, is a web-based initiative through which teams around the world compete to raise the most funds to combat malaria. First Lady Laura Bush praised MAM’s creativity during the recent White House summit on malaria on December 14, 2006. Recent New York Times and Wall Street Journal articles have also begun to highlight the increased awareness and desire for malaria prevention.

Malaria awareness has been relatively low, especially in comparison to other fatal diseases such as AIDS, cancer and influenza. A common misconception of malaria is that the deadly disease has been wiped out, or at the very least, efficiently controlled. This belief could not be more incorrect.

“Malaria is the largest killer of children and pregnant women in the world. In fact, 70 percent of malaria victims are under the age of five,” said Laifer. “In total, the disease claims one to three million lives each year. These statistics are especially staggering because malaria is fully preventable and treatable. Through programs like MAM, we have the opportunity to eradicate this horrible disease and save millions of lives around the world.”

All of the funds raised through MAM will be used to purchase long-lasting insecticidal bed nets, which cost just $5 apiece and effectively prevent malaria by protecting people from malaria-carrying mosquito bites while they sleep.

Laifer, who attended the White House Summit on Malaria in December, is also the co-founder of Hedge Funds vs. Malaria, a group of hedge fund managers working together to develop innovative ideas to raise money and increase awareness about the epidemic within the hedge fund community.

For more information about MAM, please visit www.madnessagainstmalaria.com.

About Dukas Public Relations
New York-based Dukas Public Relations (DPR) specializes in developing and implementing high-impact communications programs and media relations campaigns for financial and professional services firms and emerging technology companies, as well as prestigious academic, philanthropic and arts-oriented institutions. Founded in 2002, DPR is regarded for its ability to generate coverage for its clients in the nation’s top-tier media, and received a prestigious national award in 2005 for the work it performed on behalf of one its hedge fund clients. For more information about DPR, visit www.dukaspr.com.